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Lithuania Commits €10 Million to Return and Reintegrate Ukrainian Children Kidnapped by Russia
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with his Lithuanian counterpart Kęstutis Budrys to sign a Joint Declaration allocating €10 million ($10.8 million) toward the return and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, he wrote in a post on X on May 11.
“I was glad to meet with [Kęstutis Budrys] to reaffirm the strength of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian partnership,” Sybiha stated following the meeting, adding that the two diplomats focused heavily on joint defense and security cooperation.
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A key topic of discussion was the integration of defense manufacturing, specifically “how Ukraine-EU Drone Deal can make Europe stronger and more strategically autonomous,” the Foreign Minister noted.
Addressing recent security breaches involving Russian drones crossing into NATO territory, Sybiha formally offered Kyiv’s assistance to bolster Baltic air defenses. “In the context of the recent drone incidents, I reiterated Ukraine’s readiness to send an expert group to Lithuania to share experience and help protect the sky,” he stated.
I was glad to meet with @BudrysKestutis to reaffirm the strength of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian partnership.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) May 11, 2026
We discussed our defense and security cooperation and how Ukraine-EU Drone Deal can make Europe stronger and more strategically autonomous.
In the context of the recent… pic.twitter.com/c9XE1hieNx
The ministers also discussed urgent European Union matters, agreeing that all negotiation clusters regarding Ukraine’s EU accession path need to be opened as soon as possible, with Sybiha thanking Budrys for Lithuania’s “strong and principled stance.”
The centerpiece of the diplomatic meeting, however, was a shared commitment to support minors affected by the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “I am grateful to Lithuania for its commitment to allocate €10 million to activities related to the protection, return, rehabilitation and reintegration of Ukrainian children, as set out in the Joint Declaration that we signed together with Minister Budrys today,” Sybiha said.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has systematically deported tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to its territory and occupied regions. In response to these actions, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued historic arrest warrants for Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, holding them criminally responsible for the unlawful deportation and transfer of children.
To counter these abductions and facilitate safe repatriations, Ukraine launched the Bring Kids Back UA initiative. The comprehensive program unites government agencies, international partners, and human rights organizations to track deported minors, pressure the Kremlin for their release, and provide essential psychological and medical rehabilitation upon their return.
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