President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported or forcibly transferred by Russia must become a mandatory element of any future peace agreement.
Source: OBOZREVATEL
She made the statement following a high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, attended by representatives of the EU, Ukraine, and Canada, according to the European Commission.
Delegations from nearly 60 countries also participated in the meeting. Von der Leyen announced the initiative to create the coalition earlier during her annual State of the Union address in the EU in 2025.
On behalf of the European Union, Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos took part in the talks. Partners confirmed a common position on the need to return every Ukrainian child and to hold accountable those responsible for illegal deportations.
“Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children taken by Russia are still separated from their families and their country. We will not rest until every child is reunited with their family,” von der Leyen emphasized.
She also announced an additional €50 million in funding to support Ukraine’s child protection system. The funds will be directed toward education, social services, community support, and access to justice.
After the meeting, the EU, Ukraine, and Canada issued joint conclusions. Coalition members agreed to strengthen mechanisms for locating abducted children and expand international coordination.
It is also planned to use open-source data and partner intelligence to determine the whereabouts of children, as well as to intensify cooperation within the UN and with international partners.
Separately, the need to continue investigations and legal proceedings regarding the illegal deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children, as well as their militarization and “re-education,” was emphasized.
In addition, the coalition agreed to increase sanctions pressure on individuals involved in these crimes.
According to the European Commission, since the start of the full-scale war, more than 20,500 Ukrainian children have been illegally deported or forcibly transferred to Russia or temporarily occupied territories. Brussels notes that Russia systematically withholds information about these children, which complicates their return.