The EU, together with Ukraine and Canada, will co-host a high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children on 11 May in Brussels.
On this occasion, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has cost more than land and lives - it has stolen childhoods. Over 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken from their families, their homes. On 11 May, together with Ukraine and Canada, we will bring the world together to demand justice. We will work together to trace every single child, to return them to their homes, and ensure those responsible face consequences. These children are Ukraine's future and we will not rest until every single child is returned."
High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, on behalf of the EU, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha, and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada Anita Anand, will co-host the high-level meeting to support Ukraine's work to trace, return, and reintegrate the children while ensuring accountability for Russia's crimes. Participants will also discuss ways to step up coordinated sanctions against those responsible for these crimes. During the meeting, partners will also discuss the recommendations prepared by civil society and the expert community during the Civil Society Expert Day that will take place in Kyiv on 30 April.
According to Ukrainian authorities, over 20,000 Ukrainian children have been unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred to Russia and the temporarily occupied territories since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This, paired with Russia's systematic efforts to conceal their identities and whereabouts, demands sustained international support. Ensuring that perpetrators of these heinous violations of international humanitarian law are held accountable is paramount.
Background
Announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in her 2025 State of the Union address , the meeting will bring together partners from across the world with the clear mission of returning all Ukrainian children that were unlawfully taken by Russia, helping them reintegrate back into their families, culture and society, as well as hold Russia accountable for its criminal actions.
The European Union, together with its partners, is supporting Ukraine in its quest to ensure that all Ukrainian children are returned to their homes. The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children was launched in Kyiv in February 2024 and is co-chaired by Ukraine and Canada, with the EU becoming a full member in September 2025. The International Coalition has played a key role in mobilising international support and maintaining global attention on the issue. It unites 47 countries and international organisations and serves as a platform for coordinating the diplomatic, humanitarian, legal, and informational efforts of foreign governments that, together with Ukraine, are working to address the problem of the deportation of children.
