Britain is set to back prosecuting Vladimir Putin for war crimes in a move modelled on the Nuremberg trials of Nazis after the Second World War. 

It is understood the UK will join most European nations to back proposals at the Council of Europe to put Russians on trial for ‘crimes of aggression’ during the invasion of Ukraine. 

An ad hoc military tribunal would be set up to prosecute Russian generals and leaders for war crimes, according to plans Britain will back at a meeting of the European human rights organisation next month. 

Sir Keir Starmer’s long-time friend and fellow lawyer Philippe Sands, along with others in the profession, has said it should be set up specifically for handling crimes of aggression. 

These are defined by the United Nations as ‘invasion or attack by the armed forces of a state on the territory of another state, or any military occupation’. 

The UK and some other Western countries have said that under these terms, the political decision to invade should also be scrutinised, as well as war crimes committed in Ukraine after the war began in February 2022, the Telegraph reports. 

But it risks creating friction between Sir Keir and President Donald Trump. 

The US confirmed last month it had withdrawn from and suspended funds to the body in charge of the proposal, called the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression – which Joe Biden’s administration had supported. 

Britain is set to back prosecuting Vladimir Putin (pictured) for war crimes in a move modelled on the Nuremberg trials of Nazis after the Second World War

Britain is set to back prosecuting Vladimir Putin (pictured) for war crimes in a move modelled on the Nuremberg trials of Nazis after the Second World War

It is understood the UK will join most European nations to back proposals to put Russians on trial for 'crimes of aggression' during the invasion of Ukraine. Pictured: A soldier walks past destroyed buildings in the city of Pokrovsk, Ukraine, on Tuesday

It is understood the UK will join most European nations to back proposals to put Russians on trial for ‘crimes of aggression’ during the invasion of Ukraine. Pictured: A soldier walks past destroyed buildings in the city of Pokrovsk, Ukraine, on Tuesday 

Sir Keir Starmer's (pictured) long-time friend and fellow lawyer Philippe Sands, along with others in the profession, has said it should be set up specifically for handling crimes of aggression

Sir Keir Starmer’s (pictured) long-time friend and fellow lawyer Philippe Sands, along with others in the profession, has said it should be set up specifically for handling crimes of aggression

The ‘crime of aggression’ cannot be examined by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague – and the ICC is not recognised by Russia or the US. 

Suggestions that a new court should deal with crimes of aggression, then, were first raised in 2022. 

They were backed by both Ukraine’s government and then-US president Joe Biden’s administration – and American lawyers and funds were sent to help establish it. 

But Trump, trying to be more conciliatory towards Russia, withdrew this involvement after his inauguration in January. 

The President has refused to describe Russia’s actions as an invasion and hopes to broker peace between Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. 

He also refused to sign a statement from the G7 nations calling Russia the ‘aggressor’ and has previously dubbed Zelensky a ‘dictator’. 

It comes after a video emerged in January of a Russian soldier calling on his comrades to film as at least six Ukrainian prisoners of war were cold-bloodedly shot dead. 

Kyiv launched a criminal investigation at the time and reported the barbaric mass killing to the UN and Red Cross.

But it risks creating friction between Sir Keir and President Donald Trump

But it risks creating friction between Sir Keir and President Donald Trump

The President has refused to describe Russia's actions as an invasion and hopes to broker peace between Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured)

The President has refused to describe Russia’s actions as an invasion and hopes to broker peace between Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) 

Suggestions that a new court should deal with crimes of aggression, then, were first raised in 2022. They were backed by both Ukraine's government and then-US president Joe Biden's administration. Pictured: A view of destruction after a Russian attack on the Ukrainian village of Borova on Tuesday

Suggestions that a new court should deal with crimes of aggression, then, were first raised in 2022. They were backed by both Ukraine’s government and then-US president Joe Biden’s administration. Pictured: A view of destruction after a Russian attack on the Ukrainian village of Borova on Tuesday 

The savage Russian soldiers in the occupied Donetsk region filmed themselves committing the illegal battlefield massacre.

Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, who also sent details to the UN and Red Cross, said at the time: ‘The Russian army has never been famous for its dignified treatment of prisoners of war, and here it once again demonstrates its helplessness and criminality.’ 

He added: ‘The lack of responsibility has turned the crime into a systematic one. We cannot turn a blind eye to this.

‘Ukraine needs justice and responsibility for those who commit crimes and do not adhere to any norms.’

A UN study found in March last year that Russia was continuing to commit serious rights violations and war crimes in Ukraine, including ‘systematic’ torture and rape.

The high-level Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the rights situation in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion, said that it had found fresh evidence of widespread abuses.

It also voiced concern about the continued use of explosive weapons in civilian areas, confirming ‘a pattern of disregard by Russian armed forces for possible harm to civilians’.

‘The evidence shows that Russian authorities have committed violation of international human rights and international humanitarian law and corresponding war crimes,’ COI chief Erik Mose said at the time. 

‘Further investigations are required to determine whether some of the situations identified may constitute crimes against humanity,’ he added.

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