Justice may proceed slowly and cautiously, but it does proceed. Vladimir Putin saw a gap in international law and global resolve in which he believed he could act with impunity, launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This calculation was based on a perceived lack of collective will to enforce accountability for war crimes and aggression.

To close this gap, the international community must prioritize the establishment of a special tribunal. Such a mechanism would ensure that Putin and his inner circle face legal consequences for the atrocities committed. Without a concrete legal framework, the precedent remains that powerful leaders can violate sovereignty without fear of prosecution.

Closing this gap requires more than rhetoric; it demands the commitment of Ukraine and its allies to support a judicial process that transcends political expediency. By holding the Russian leadership accountable, the world can signal that the era of impunity is over. The goal is to ensure that international law is not merely a suggestion, but a binding constraint on state behavior to prevent future conflicts.