The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Archive: Reparations for Russia's Aggression Against Ukraine with Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi and Patrick Pearsall
Oct 3, 2026
Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, Executive Director of the Register of Damage for Ukraine, and Patrick Pearsall, an international claims lawyer and Columbia Law School project director, discuss Ukraine’s reparations strategy. They trace the plan from President Zelensky to the UN, explain the registry, claims commission, and compensation fund, and examine frozen Russian assets, sovereign immunity, and reparations’ role in future peace talks.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Why Ukraine Started With A Damage Registry
- The damages registry offered a politically acceptable first step because it preserved evidence without immediately adjudicating claims or seizing assets.
- Its designers viewed documentation as leverage in eventual ceasefire and settlement negotiations.
Why Ordinary Courts Cannot Reach Every Victim
- Domestic courts, investment arbitration, and suits against Russian entities cannot realistically serve every victim.
- A bespoke mechanism can give families, small businesses, and displaced people an accessible path to compensation.
The UN Resolution Created Political Cover
- The 2022 UN General Assembly resolution connected three propositions: Russia violated international law, reparations are owed, and an implementation mechanism is necessary.
- Though nonbinding, its 94 votes supplied political cover and momentum for later institutions.