Media
February 2, 2025

The Co-Chairs of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children mark the first anniversary of its launch in Kyiv

On February 2, 2024, Ukraine and Canada launched the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, bringing together nations and organizations committed to the safe return of Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russia. One year later, 41 countries and the Council of Europe have joined this historic effort, reaffirming that innocent children cannot be used as tools of war. The invitation remains open for any nation willing to stand against this injustice.

With the support of Coalition Member States and key international partners, Ukraine successfully returned nearly 600 children in 2024. However, thousands more remain separated from their homes, their families, and their culture. The Montreal Pledge, signed by 53 countries and multilateral organizations at the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s Peace Formula in October 2024, provides a clear roadmap for the return of deported children, prisoners of war, and unlawfully detained civilians.

But much work remains.

The Co-Chairs of the International Coalition, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, marked this anniversary by calling for immediate action.

Minister Joly emphasized: “Canada has been working hard to raise awareness about the situation of displaced Ukrainian children, including through the Montreal Conference, UN resolutions, and other global events. These efforts ensure that their suffering is not forgotten. We have also provided technical support and funding for local initiatives, showing Canada’s dedication to practical, on-the-ground assistance.”

Minister Sybiha called for stronger international efforts. “Russia’s systematic deportation of Ukrainian children is a crime rooted in imperial practices, aimed at erasing their identity. Returning them remains a top priority for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We have secured commitments and built a global network. Thanks to international support, we are bringing back Ukrainian children stolen by Putin’s regime, but thousands remain illegally held. Russia must stop obstructing justice. We urge all nations to join the Coalition and sign the Joint Communiqué — no child should be a pawn in war. Together, we will bring them home.”

  1. We urgently call on Russia to immediately end the practice of deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children and to fully cooperate in efforts to return Ukraine’s children.
  2. We invite all countries and organizations to join us in the Coalition and to sign the Montreal Pledge.
  3. We invite countries to continue or consider supporting programs of reintegration and rehabilitation, including programs for children who have been subjected to deportation, forced transfer, and the devastating impacts of war, within the framework of the "Bring Kids Back UA" initiative.
  4. We commend the mediation efforts undertaken by countries to locate and return Ukrainian children and call on others to actively contribute to these efforts.