40 countries, alongside the Council of Europe and the European Union, have joined together today to call on Russia to fulfil its legal and moral obligation by immediately and unconditionally returning Ukrainian children.
The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, co-chaired by Canada and Ukraine, has sent a clear and united message on behalf of the international community: Russia must return the Ukrainian children without delay or conditions.
During the first round of peace talks in Istanbul, an initial list of children to be returned was presented to Russia as a confidence-building measure, a limited, humanitarian gesture to encourage Russia to act in good faith. Its failure to respond meaningfully reflects a deliberate rejection of dialogue and cooperation.
Eight weeks have passed, including a second round of negotiations, and Russia has refused to propose any credible mechanism for the children’s return or to engage in a constructive, good-faith process, as required under international law.
Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said: “The world is watching. Today’s statement by the Coalition shows that the international community stands united in demanding the return of every Ukrainian child who was deported or forcibly transferred. There can be no justification for these crimes, and no delay in bringing the children home. Every day that passes without their return is a day of continued injustice. We will not stop until every child is back where they belong: with their families, in their homeland, safe and free.“
Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, said: “The suffering of children is one of the most unbearable tragedies of this war. Russia’s forced deportation of nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children is a blatant violation of international law. These children must be returned. We call on Russia to begin with the 339 children identified by Ukraine. The EU will continue to impose sanctions on those who steal Ukrainian children and attempt to erase their identity. The European Union also calls for an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire, as Ukraine has offered for many months, to end the suffering and open the door to real peace talks”.
Andriy Sybiha, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, added: “Now is the time to increase pressure on Moscow and demand the return of Ukrainian children. Starting with the initial list passed to Russia in Istanbul. I thank our Canadian friends, as well as the Coalition's other forty partners, for their principled and united stance on this issue. Russian officials who make cynical remarks about deported children must not be allowed to ignore the issue. We will never allow Russia to make our children a bargaining chip. Their return is non-negotiable. Every Ukrainian child separated from his or her family and homeland must be returned home.”
Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the situation of children of Ukraine, concluded: “The Ukrainian children stolen by Russia must be returned. The kids living under Russian occupation must be freed. The children living in fear of terror must have security, and those who have fled Ukraine must be able to return home. Russia must be made accountable for having made the destruction of children’s lives a strategic policy during their war of aggression. It is the duty of the international community to ensure that justice will be served”.
The unlawful deportation and forced transfer of children constitute grave breaches of international law, including the Geneva Conventions and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Coalition also calls on Russia to provide full and verifiable information on all children’s whereabouts, well-being, and legal status; grant unimpeded access to international humanitarian organisations; and cease the manipulation of children's identities, including forced citizenship changes, placement in Russian families or institutions, and exposure to indoctrination and militarization.
Today’s joint statement reaffirms the Coalition’s commitment to coordinated action in support of Ukraine’s efforts to ensure every unlawfully taken Ukrainian child is accounted for, returned, and given the support needed to recover.
The Coalition’s Joint Statement is supported by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Council of Europe, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, European Union (observer), Switzerland (observer), Costa Rica, Greece and France.