Thirty -eight countries together with the Council of Europe and the EU have called on Russia immediately and unconditionally to return Ukrainian children
The coalition statement today demonstrates that the international community is the only one in its request to return every Ukrainian child that has been deported or forcibly displaced. There are no excuses for these crimes and there can be no delay in returning children home. Every day passing without their return is the day of continuation of injustice.
We will not dwell until every child finds itself where her place is: with his family, home, safe and at large, ”said the head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak. During the first round of peace talks in Istanbul, the Ukrainian delegation handed Russia an initial list of children to return, which could be a step to strengthen trust.
Eight weeks have passed, including the second round of negotiations, and Russia refused to offer any effective mechanism for the return of young Ukrainians. “Children's suffering is one of the most indispensable tragedies of this war. The forced deportation of Russia by almost 20,000 Ukrainian children is a candid violation of international law. These children have to be returned. We urge Russia to start with 339 children identified by Ukraine.
The EU will continue to impose sanctions against those who steal Ukrainian children and try to erase their identity. The European Union also calls for an immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire that Ukraine has been trying to stop suffering and open the way to real peace negotiations, ”said the EU's High Representative and Security Policy, Vice -Center Kai Kai.
The illegal deportation and compulsory movement of children are gross violations of international law, including the Geneva Conventions and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. “Now is the time to increase the pressure on Moscow and demand the return of Ukrainian children. Starting from the list transferred to Russia in Istanbul. I thank our Canadian friends, as well as other Coalition partners for their principled and a single position in this matter.
Russian officials who cynically comment on the topic of deported children cannot be allowed to ignore it. We will never allow Russia to make our children a coin. Their return is not a bargaining item. Every Ukrainian child, divorced with his family and his homeland, must return home, ”said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sibiga.
The coalition also calls on Russia to provide complete and confirmed information about the location, condition and legal status of all children; ensure unobstructed access of international humanitarian organizations; To stop manipulation with the identity of children, including forced change of citizenship, placement in Russian families or institutions and exposed to ideological influence and militarization. “Ukrainian children stolen by Russia should be returned.
Children living under Russian occupation should be released. Children living in fear of terror should be safety, and those who were forced to flee from Ukraine are the opportunity to return home. Russia should be held accountable for the destruction of children's fates with its strategic policy in the war of aggression.
The duty of the international community is to ensure justice, ” - summed up the special representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of Ukrainian children, Tersis Kolbrun Ribjord Gilfadottur.
The common statement of the coalition was supported by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italia Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the European Union (observer), Switzerland (observer) and European Council.