International Coalition Demands Return of Ukrainian Children

38 Nations, EU, and Council of Europe Unite Against Russia’s Unlawful Deportations

On 5 August 2025, a powerful moral coalition comprising 38 nations, the Council of Europe, and the European Union issued an unequivocal demand for the immediate and unconditional return of Ukrainian children forcibly deported by the Russian Federation. The call emerged under the auspices of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, co-chaired by Canada and Ukraine, and signals a crescendo of international condemnation over Russia’s alleged war crime: the systemic abduction and ideological manipulation of nearly 20,000 Ukrainian minors.

In a joint statement, the Coalition asserted that such forced transfers constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian law—including the Geneva Conventions and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Ukrainian government, supported by the EU and global partners, underscored the urgency of beginning with the 339 children officially identified and submitted to Russia during initial Istanbul peace negotiations—a humanitarian overture to which Russia has yet to respond meaningfully.

Andriy Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, denounced the inaction as “continued injustice,” while EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas reiterated the Union’s commitment to imposing targeted sanctions on individuals complicit in the erasure of Ukrainian children’s identities through forced assimilation, illegal adoption, and ideological indoctrination.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned against Russia’s use of children as diplomatic leverage, emphasizing that their repatriation “is not up for negotiation.” The Coalition further demanded Russia disclose the full whereabouts and legal status of all deported children, grant unimpeded access to humanitarian agencies, and cease the coercive naturalization and militarization of minors.

Special Envoy Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir of the Council of Europe condemned Russia’s targeting of children as a strategic wartime policy, declaring it the duty of the international community to restore justice and dignity to the youngest victims of aggression.

The statement bears the imprimatur of countries across all continents, including Argentina, Japan, Australia, and nearly all EU member states—underscoring an unprecedented consensus. In a world fractured by geopolitical contention, this collective resolve speaks volumes: the weaponization of children will not be tolerated, and the international order will not remain silent while innocence is exiled.

5 August 2025

Statement by the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children on the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation

We, the members of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, reiterate our unwavering commitment to the protection of children affected by Russia’s illegal, unprovoked, and unjustifiable full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, in line with international humanitarian law and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In the context of its war of aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation has unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children to its territory and from temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine, as documented by international bodies, including the International Criminal Court. Thousands of these children remain in Russia, away from their families and communities.
During their bilateral meeting held in Istanbul on June 2, 2025, the Government of Ukraine presented the Russian Federation with an initial list of 339 Ukrainian children unlawfully deported to the Russian Federation or forcibly transferred from temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine, and it formally requested their immediate and unconditional return. This constitutes a critical humanitarian step and a genuine opportunity for the Russian Federation to demonstrate good faith through concrete confidence-building measures. In light of the statements made by the representatives of the Russian Federation on July 23,
2025, we call on the Russian Federation to:
 act promptly and meaningfully on the initial list of children presented by Ukraine, ensuring their immediate and unconditional return to their families and communities in Ukraine;
 facilitate the return of all unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children, in
accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions;
 provide full and verifiable information on all unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children under the effective control of the Russian Federation, including their whereabouts, wellbeing, legal status, health condition, and ensure unhindered access for international humanitarian organizations to assess their situation and safeguard their rights and well-being; and
 cease to alter the identity of children, including changes to their citizenship, placement in Russian families or institutions, ideological indoctrination, and exposure to militarization.
We take this opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to the protection of children in armed conflict. We note with concern that the UN Secretary-General’s 2025 Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) recorded the highest number of verified violations to date.
As a global community, we must ensure that the protection of all children affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine remains at the forefront of our humanitarian action and diplomatic efforts.
The return of Ukrainian children is one vital step in this broader imperative, to ensure that children are never used as pawns of war. All actions must be guided by the best interests of the child in accordance with international law.
We, the members of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, reaffirm that compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law is a binding obligation for all parties to armed conflict—notably in ensuring the protection of children, safeguarding their identity and dignity, and enabling conditions for their safe and voluntary return, in accordance with international norms and principles.
Signed: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Council of Europe, Croatia, Czechia, 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) and Switzerland (observer).

5 August 2025