President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered an address at the High-level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, held in Brussels on 11 May 2026. This initiative was announced by President von der Leyen at her 2025 State of the Union address and co-hosted by the EU, Ukraine, and Canada, bringing together representatives from around 60 countries to coordinate diplomatic, humanitarian, and legal efforts aimed at securing the safe return of Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia.
At the meeting, the European Commission announced €50 million to support the protection systems, education, and reintegration of abducted Ukrainian children and to pursue accountability for those responsible. In her address, President von der Leyen put a face to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine by recounting the story of Sasha, an 11-year-old boy who Russian soldiers took and separated from his mother, but who escaped to free Ukraine with his grandmother's help. The President recalled her meeting with the Ukrainian boy: "When I met Sasha, I promised that we would do all we can to help."
Since the start of their war of aggression against Ukraine, Russian authorities deported or forcibly transferred more than 20,500 children, with only around 2,100 returned so far. President von der Leyen stressed the extent of the issue: "Tens of thousands of boys and girls remain trapped in Russia. Frightened and longing for their families and loved ones. Many have already been rescued – thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian government, civil society, and all of you in the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. But every child that is held captive is one too many." She was equally clear that accountability must be central to any peace agreement: "The return of each and every Ukrainian child taken by Russia must be a central point in any peace agreement. Because how can a nation choose its own future, if its children are denied theirs? "
The meeting took place in the context of increased EU support for Ukraine. At their informal meeting of EU Heads of State or Government in April, EU leaders agreed on the €90 billion loan for Ukraine. The first tranche of €45 billion is set for release in 2026, with this quarter's disbursement. Of the loan, two-thirds will fund Ukraine's defence, including a first defence budget worth €6 billion dedicated to Ukrainian-made drones. President von der Leyen had been unequivocal: "The more Russia doubles down on its war of aggression, the more Europe doubles down on supporting Ukraine. That is important for us. Because we are clear about standing by your side and by the side of the Ukrainian people."
EU High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos co-chaired the meeting, alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand. Canada will organise a follow-up conference on the return, rehabilitation, and reintegration of abducted children, as well as detainees and prisoners of war in Toronto, for 28–29 September 2026.
