#ChildrenAreNonNegotiable: international leaders call for the return of Ukrainian children as part of the path to peace

Today, in a show of solidarity, political leaders and influential figures from across Europe and Canada have joined forces in a collective call for the return of Ukrainian children abducted by the Russian Federation.

At a time when the world is increasingly discussing possible pathways to ending the war, this campaign, coordinated by the Bring Kids Back UA initiative of the President of Ukraine, insists that the return of Ukrainian children must be an integral condition for peace.

“Every Ukrainian child held by Russia is a pain that will not fade in the hearts of Ukrainians until they are returned. We will be able to rebuild our cities and reclaim our territories, but we cannot give children back their stolen childhoods. The world must speak with one voice: children are not weapons of war, and bringing them home is the foundation of lasting peace,” emphasizes President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, adds: “The return of all Ukrainian children taken by Russia must be an unconditional part of the peace process. Without this, there can be neither a just nor a lasting peace. This campaign unites the international community around this idea.”

Nearly 300 voices from across Europe and Canada will join coordinated efforts to sustain diplomatic pressure, raise public awareness, and ensure that Russia is held accountable for its crimes against Ukrainian children.

“Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Russia has abducted thousands of Ukrainian children, forcibly separating them from their families and tearing them away from their homes. Their return is not merely one element of peace — it is at the very heart of it,” says Dariia Zarivna, Director of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative and Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

Abducted children are taken to remote regions of Russia, often for adoption by Russian families or placement in institutional care, far from their homeland. This is a deliberate attempt to erase their Ukrainian identity, depriving them of their language, culture, and connection to their native land. It is not only an attack on Ukraine but also a long-term threat to the security of Europe as a whole. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for war crimes related to the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.

This Easter, as many of us spend time with our loved ones, the campaign reminds the world of the thousands of Ukrainian children denied that same opportunity — abducted by Russia and separated from their families, homes, and identity.