- Category
- Latest news
38 Countries Urge Russia for Unconditional Return of Ukrainian Children
- Authors
![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children has issued a strong call for Russia to immediately and unconditionally return children abducted from Ukraine. The joint statement was signed by 38 countries, the Council of Europe, and the European Union, according to a release published by the Office of the President of Ukraine on August 5.
“The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, established under President Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, has urged Russia to return the abducted Ukrainian children without delay or preconditions. The coalition is co-chaired by Canada and Ukraine. The joint statement was signed by 38 countries, the Council of Europe, and the European Union,” the statement reads.
According to the Office of the President, the statement was endorsed by:
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
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)
Council of Europe
Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak emphasized the unity of the international community in demanding the return of Ukraine’s children.
“The entire civilized world is watching. Today’s declaration by the coalition shows that the international community stands united in its demand to return every Ukrainian child who was deported or forcibly displaced. These crimes are inexcusable, and there must be no delay in bringing the children home,” Yermak said.
The statement also recalls that during the first round of peace talks in Istanbul, the Ukrainian delegation handed Russia an initial list of children for return, intended as a trust-building step. Eight weeks have passed, including a second round of negotiations, but Russia has refused to propose any viable mechanism for returning the children.
“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. We are calling on Russia to begin with the 339 children identified by Ukraine. The EU will continue to impose sanctions on those responsible for the abduction of Ukrainian children and the erasure of their identity,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas.
The statement underscores that the forced deportation and relocation of children constitute serious violations of international law, including the Geneva Conventions and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“Now is the time to increase pressure on Moscow and demand the return of Ukrainian children—starting with the list handed over in Istanbul. Russian officials who cynically comment on the issue of deported children must not be allowed to ignore it. We will never allow Russia to use our children as bargaining chips. Their return is not up for negotiation. Every Ukrainian child separated from their family and homeland must come home,” said Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha.
The coalition is also calling on Russia to provide complete and verified information about the whereabouts, condition, and legal status of the abducted children; to allow unhindered access for international humanitarian organizations; and to stop manipulating children’s identities, including through forced citizenship, placement in Russian families or institutions, ideological indoctrination, and militarization.
Earlier, several Ukrainian children were successfully evacuated from Russian-occupied territories under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
Among those rescued is a 15-year-old girl who endured harassment and violence for wearing a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt to school. Despite threats from teachers and pressure directed at her mother, she refused to renounce her Ukrainian identity.
