A meeting was held in Paris regarding the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia

The First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of France Brigitte Macron and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barro took part in the meeting, which took place within the framework of the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA.   About 150 participants were present: representatives of French political circles, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, business, the philanthropic community, city mayors, heads of regions and cultural figures.

  The President's wife emphasized that Ukraine was able to return home 1,859 children as of now. To find and return young Ukrainians, our state together with partners created the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. It includes 42 countries, the European Union, the Council of Europe and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. "But help is needed even after rescue. After the physical return home, children also need a psychological and social return.

For this purpose, we are creating mental support programs in Ukraine, and the government has introduced special assistance for each returned child," said Olena Zelenska.   The first lady called on everyone who cares to help Ukrainian children.   "The return of children from captivity is not about politics. This is about our ability to sympathize, support the defenseless, the ability to defend justice and respond to flagrant violations of human and child rights," said the President's wife.

   During the meeting, there was also a presentation of the key areas of activity within Bring Kids Back UA: search and identification of deported and forcibly displaced children, their return, psychological support of families, as well as models of reintegration and rehabilitation, which Ukraine implements with international partners. France will deepen its support for Ukraine and promote the development of reintegration programs.

The French government, municipal and regional authorities have made a number of commitments to further assist in the rehabilitation of children who have survived deportation and occupation. Jean-Noel Barro announced that, with the support of the French government, a center for the rehabilitation of children returned from the Russian Federation would be opened in Cherkassy.

The city of Nantes signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Kherson, which opens up new opportunities for supporting Ukrainian children affected by Russian aggression. As part of this cooperation, 30 children were accepted, including orphans, who joined the rehabilitation and reintegration programs.