Council of Europe pledges continued support for accountability, recovery, and democratic security in Ukraine

Supporting Ukraine in the peace process, advancing the Council of Europe's accountability and compensation mechanisms, as well as the democratic and rule of law reforms, which are also necessary for Ukraine's EU integration, as an investment in Ukraine's democratic security, are the key vectors of the Organisation's work to help Ukraine, stressed the Council of Europe Secretary General, Alain Berset, concluding his two-day working visit to the country.

"The Council of Europe is not just another international partner for Ukraine - it is Ukraine's own organisation, where the country has been a member for 30 years," Berset said.

Support to just and lasting peace

"In my meeting with President Zelenskyy, I have stressed that despite not being at the negotiating table, the Council of Europe stands ready to support Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace," Alain Berset said.

"I have reiterated our readiness to contribute to the areas covered in the discussions in which the Council of Europe has unique and relevant expertise - elections (including at local and regional level), reparations, minority rights, including minority languages, religious tolerance, humanitarian issues, restoring functioning and democratic local institutions in de-occupied areas, as well as carrying out constitutional reform which may be triggered by a peace agreement."

Advancing accountability and compensation mechanisms

The Council of Europe will also continue advancing accountability mechanisms, such the Register of Damage for Ukraine as part of a comprehensive international compensation system, which will also include the International Claims Commission. It continues its work on the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. "Our goal is to secure justice for victims and uphold the fundamental principle that aggression must not go unpunished," Berset stressed.

The Council of Europe works with veterans and other people who have been facing huge suffering due to the war. Accountability, trauma-informed care, strengthening cooperation and awareness-raising in support of Ukrainian children have been priority areas of the Secretary General's Special Envoy on the situation of children of Ukraine, who has been working since February 2025.

Reforms

Supporting the reforms in the country, and its path towards EU accession, is an important element of the Council of Europe's ongoing work for Ukraine. It does so through its various bodies - such as the Venice Commission working on constitutional matters, GRECO with its extensive anti-corruption expertise, European Court of Human Rights which still rules of human rights violations by Russia, and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. This expertise translates into concrete co-operation projects on the ground, such as strengthening the judiciary through capacity-building and legislative advice.

"The Council of Europe sets the standards and has unique expertise and credibility in democracy, rule of law, human rights and minority protection. Through our Office in Kyiv, the largest of all the Council of Europe field presences, we combine technical expertise, political legitimacy and operational presence to ensure that reforms move from paper to practice," Berset explained.

The Council of Europe's current Action Plan for Ukraine 2023-2026 "Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction" is central to this effort. Ukraine has already advanced key reforms in accountability, democracy and human rights - including strategies for prosecuting international crimes, new laws on local democracy, and victim protection mechanisms. Innovative tools such as digital evaluation systems, custody records, interactive training and broad support for youth and civil society further reinforce resilience.

"These reforms are not optional: they are essential for Ukraine's future security. The Council of Europe is already accompanying Ukraine every step of the way, providing both expertise and hands-on support to ensure these reforms succeed," Berset said.

Democratic security for Ukraine

"The Council of Europe accompanies Ukraine on its EU path. EU membership is part of Ukraine's security guarantees, and supporting the reforms necessary for Ukraine's EU integration is also an investment in Ukraine's democratic security," Secretary General stressed.

Democratic security for Ukraine is expected to be the focus of the next Council of Europe's Action Plan for 2027-2030.

"Ukraine's stability and democratic resilience are central not only to its own recovery, but also to European security as a whole", Berset explained.

High-level meetings during the visit

During the working visit to Ukraine, Secretary General also met with the Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, Prime Minister Yulia Svyridenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Ulyutin, First Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine - Minister of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba and Acting Minister of Justice Liudmyla Suhak.

He took part in the ceremony of commemoration of the fallen defenders of Ukraine in the Russian - Ukrainian war at the people's memorial at Maidan Nezalezhnosti, visited the Point of Invincibility (Пункт незламності) and witnessed the damage to energy critical infrastructure caused by Russian attacks at a power station in Kyiv.

Read the speech by Secretary General Alain Berset in full

The Council of Europe's support for Ukraine

Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine

Council of Europe Office in Ukraine

Secretary General Alain Berset