What does true accountability look like in the face of unprovoked aggression?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Dr. Paul R. Williams sits down with Dr. Anton Korynevych, Director of the Department of International Law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and one of the key legal architects of the proposed Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

Together, they explore the groundbreaking legal and diplomatic efforts underway to establish a new international judicial body capable of prosecuting Russia’s leadership for the crime of aggression — from the choice of model and jurisdiction to the broader international implications for law and justice.

Anton shares his front-line perspective on how this tribunal complements existing mechanisms like the ICC and the ICJ, why it matters beyond Ukraine, and what it signals to complicit states and the world at large.

🎧 Join us for a deep dive into legal innovation, geopolitical accountability, and Ukraine’s path to justice.

What does it take to build lasting peace — and secure it?

What kind of security guarantees can truly deter renewed aggression?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Dr. Paul R. Williams is joined by Lesia Ogryzko, Director of the Sahaidachnyi Security Center, and Julian Braithwaite, former UK Ambassador to the UN and WTO, to unpack what a post-war security framework for Ukraine could and should look like.

Together, they explore how to negotiate credible security commitments that reflect the lessons of past failures — while embracing future-oriented strategies for deterrence, resilience, and international coordination.

From the role of the EU, US, and NATO, to the engagement of global players like China, India, and Brazil, the conversation examines how a pluralistic, robust security architecture can emerge from peace talks. The episode also confronts hard realities, including Russia’s continued threats and the challenges of military demilitarization demands.

🎧 Tune in for an expert dialogue on peace, power, and post-war security strategy.

What does it take to create an international reparations mechanism? How can individuals and institutions contribute to a future justice process—one claim at a time?

In this latest episode of Lawyering Peace, Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, Executive Director of the Register of Damage for Ukraine, joins Dr. Paul R. Williams to discuss one of the most innovative legal accountability efforts emerging from Russia’s war of aggression.

The Register of Damage is the first formal step in a broader reparations mechanism, designed to collect and record claims for loss, injury, and damage caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion. Though not a tribunal or fund itself, the Register lays the legal and evidentiary foundation for future restitution—whether through confiscated Russian assets or other funding structures.

Kliuchkovskyi explains how this unique mechanism navigates international legal constraints, anticipates huge numbers of claims, and gives Ukrainians a chance to document the losses they have experienced as a consequence of Russia's war. The conversation explores financing options, political momentum, and how the Register’s growing legitimacy helps to ensure that reparations remain a pillar of any future peace.

🎧 Tune in for a timely discussion on law, justice, and the architecture of accountability after war.

What are the legal and political pathways for using frozen Russian assets to compensate Ukraine?

And why has the transfer of these assets become a litmus test for the rules-based international order?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Ukrainian diplomat and legal expert Mykola Yurlov joins Dr. Paul R. Williams to discuss how frozen Russian sovereign assets could - and should - be used to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and deliver justice for victims of aggression.

Mykola held the position of Deputy Director of the Department of International Law and Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice, where he led both the International Disputes Unit and the Damage Compensation Unit. In these roles, he contributed to the development of an international compensation mechanism and to Ukraine’s proposal for a special tribunal for the crime of aggression. He also served as Senior Legal Counsel at Truth Hounds, a leading Ukrainian human rights organization documenting war crimes on the ground.

Mykola breaks down the legal foundation for asset transfers under international law, including the use of countermeasures and the principle of state responsibility. He outlines how these transfers would support the three-part international compensation mechanism: the Register of Damage, a future Claims Commission, and a Compensation Fund.

The conversation explores both the legal feasibility and the political resistance surrounding asset transfers, especially debates over sovereign immunity, reversibility, and potential financial precedent. Mykola explains why delay harms not only Ukraine, but the broader credibility of international law.

🎧 Tune in for a timely discussion on law, reparations, political will, and the global implications of frozen asset policy.

What does international law owe to Ukraine´s deported children? Why is Russia’s forced transfer of Ukrainian children a defining issue for global justice?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Ukrainian international legal experts Dr. Yulia Ioffe and Dr. Kateryna Rashevska join Dr. Paul R. Williams to discuss the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and Russian-occupied territories—a policy many argue constitutes genocide.

They examine the strategic, ideologically motivated nature of the deportations: re-education, forced adoptions, name changes, and the erasure of Ukrainian identity. The conversation highlights how this tactic not only breaks international law but also threatens the integrity of the rules-based international order.

Drawing on their legal and advocacy experience, Ioffe and Rashevska reflect on the limits of current enforcement tools, the urgent need for repatriation and reintegration, and how the international community must close accountability gaps. They also explain how the legal response to these crimes could shape the future of child protection in armed conflict more broadly.

🎧 Tune in for a timely discussion on genocide, international law, and the moral and legal imperative to return Ukraine’s children.

What does it take to negotiate peace when your opponent uses diplomacy as a tool for delay and manipulation? What lessons can we draw from the Minsk process to design a more durable peace in the future?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Ukrainian lawyer and mediator Yuna Potomkina joins Dr. Paul R. Williams to reflect on the shortcomings of past negotiations and the essential principles for shaping future peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Drawing from her experience as Adviser to the First Deputy Head of Ukraine’s negotiation delegation at the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk (2020–2022), Potomkina explains why peace agreements without enforceable guarantees fall short—and why justice cannot be sidelined.

She unpacks the risks of rushed or externally driven negotiations, and makes a compelling case for Ukrainian-led, legally sound, and strategically aligned peace efforts.

The conversation highlights how mediators must navigate asymmetry, protect Ukraine’s red lines, and ensure accountability is non-negotiable.

🎧 Tune in for a powerful discussion on justice, strategy, and designing a peace process that can stand the test of time.

What do negotiations look like when one party to peace talks never intended to negotiate in good faith? What can we learn from peace talks that didn’t lead to peace?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, former Danish diplomat Ivan M. Nielsen joins Dr. Paul R. Williams to reflect on his role as Denmark’s Special Envoy to the Syrian Opposition during the UN-backed Geneva peace talks.

Nielsen offers an insider's view of the Geneva process, describing how the Assad regime went through the motions of negotiation while continuing attacks on civilians—with Russia’s backing. He discusses the complex dynamics of engaging with a fragmented opposition, the structural challenges posed by the UN framework, and the difficulty of maintaining a meaningful diplomatic process under asymmetrical conditions.

Drawing on his experience in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and South Africa, Nielsen shares core lessons that are important for both Syria and other post-conflict states. Nielson offers us a cautious but enduring message of optimism about Syria’s long road ahead.

🎧 Tune in for an insightful and thoughtful discussion on diplomacy, accountability, and the struggle for peace in Syria.

Why does the crime of aggression matter for Ukraine and international peace?

How can a Special Tribunal hold Russian leaders accountable? In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Ukrainian international lawyer Dr. Gaiane Nuridzhanian joins the conversation to explain the case for a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

Dr. Nuridzhanian walks us through the evolution of the debate surrounding the crime of aggression, and presents a treaty-based tribunal—supported by Ukraine and the Council of Europe—as a legally sound, politically feasible alternative.

The conversation explores legal and strategic questions around the establishment of such a tribunal, from head-of-state immunity and trials in absentia to the inclusion of victims and its implications for future peace negotiations.

In a moment when the rules-based international legal order is under threat, our conversation with Dr. Nuridzhanian reminds us why prosecuting Russia’s war of aggression is critical not just for Ukraine, but for global accountability and future conflict prevention. Tune in for a timely discussion on justice, accountability, and international legal innovation.

----------------------- Ukraine and its allies stand at a critical juncture as they pursue a just and lasting peace and an end to Russia’s war of aggression. The road ahead is fraught with difficult issues that will arise during a future peace process, from territorial integrity and post-war security frameworks to EU accession and justice and accountability.

In this special mini-series, Prospects for Peace In Ukraine, we sit down with Ukrainian and international experts in law, diplomacy, and peace negotiations to explore some of these key issues. Together, we examine the strategies, options, and opportunities ahead as Ukraine and its allies navigate the peace process against a shifting international landscape.