INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday floated the idea of a "specialized court" to put Russia's top officials on trial
over the war in Ukraine.On the ground, Russia said it had captured a few settlements in eastern Ukraine, eager for a win after a series of
setbacks since invading its pro-Western neighbor in late February.Von der Leyen suggested a specialized tribunal to prosecute Russian
officials over the conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions from their homes."While continuing to support the International
Criminal Court, we are proposing to set up a specialized court backed by the United Nations to investigate and prosecute Russia's crime of
aggression," she said.The chief of staff to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the idea, saying: "Russia will pay for crimes
and destruction."But the initiative faces formidable legal and political obstacles.The main problem is that the International Criminal Court
signatory to the court's treaty.That tribunal can therefore only judge specific cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity
perpetrated in Ukraine, but even then Russian President Vladimir Putin and his prime minister and foreign minister enjoy immunity from
something that is impossible because Russia, with its permanent seat on the council, would veto it.'Marginal' Russian gainsVon der Leyen is
instead proposing to have a court set up in an EU country that could tackle Russia specifically on the crime of aggression, while leaving
war crimes and crimes against humanity to the ICC.The Netherlands, which already hosts the ICC in The Hague, has indicated its willingness
to establish the mooted new court on its territory."It is our task, as the international community, to make sure that we do justice," Dutch
but also through other measures."In embattled eastern Ukraine, Russia said it had captured a few settlements in its drive to seize control
of the town of Bakhmut.Russian troops are desperate for a win after retreating from the southern port city of Kherson and the northeastern
region of Kharkiv in recent months.Once known for its vineyards and cavernous salt mines, Bakhmut has been dubbed "the meat grinder" due to
troops are believed to be fighting for Moscow in the area.The Institute for the Study of War said that "Russian forces made marginal gains
29, but Russian forces remain unlikely to have advanced at the tempo that Russian sources claimed."Also on Wednesday, Kyiv boosted security
as its embassies abroad after a security guard at its mission in Madrid was lightly injured while opening a letter bomb addressed to the
Ukrainian ambassador.He was discharged from hospital on Wednesday and later returned to work, Ukraine's ambassador to Spain Serhii
Pohoreltsev told Spanish state television, blaming Russia for the attack.'Come and see for yourself'Western countries have rushed military
aid to support Kyiv's forces since the invasion, as well as issuing various other forms of support.Britain on Wednesday unveiled a new
round of sanctions on Russian officials over the war in Ukraine, targeting those accused of spearheading recent mobilization efforts and the
recruitment of "criminal mercenaries."And German lawmakers approved a resolution declaring as "genocide" the 1930s starvation of millions in
The New York Times, Zelensky criticized United States billionaire Elon Musk's proposal to end Russia's offensive in Ukraine and invited
yourself," he said."And then you will tell me how to end this war, who started it and when it can be ended."
