The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today concluded her participation in the High-level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, co-hosted by Canada, the European Union and Ukraine, in Brussels, Belgium.
Following significant and meaningful discussions with the participants, Minister Anand reaffirmed Canada's leadership as co-chair of the Coalition and announced new measures to strengthen Canada's support to Ukraine, including extending its support to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) until the end of 2027. Canada will provide an additional $3.4 million to the initiative, bringing Canada's total contribution to the initiative to $4.8 million. This support will help the HRMMU continue delivering human rights monitoring, reporting, and advocacy, with a particular focus on the human impacts of Russian strikes on critical infrastructure and enforced displacement.
Minister Anand also signed the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, making Canada the first country outside Europe to sign the Convention and confirming Canada's unwavering commitment to pursuing accountability for Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Canadians, Ukrainians living in Canada, and Canadian companies who have suffered damage, loss or injury in Ukraine resulting from Russia's full-scale invasion since February 24, 2022, may submit claims to the Register of Damage for Ukraine. After the Claims Commission is established, it will incorporate the work of the Register, as well as objectively assess such claims and determine any compensation owed by Russia.
Canada remains unwavering in its commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and its people. To that effect, Minister Anand announced that Canada is sanctioning an additional 23 individuals and five entities involved in the violations against Ukrainian children. These measures build on the sanctions Canada has already imposed on individuals and entities responsible for, or involved in, the unlawful deportation, forcible transfer, indoctrination, and militarization of Ukrainian children.
Minister Anand concluded her participation to the High-level Meeting by inviting her colleagues to attend a ministerial conference in Toronto, on September 28-29, 2026, which will focus on the return, rehabilitation and reintegration of Ukrainian deported children, detained civilians, and prisoners of war. Building on the 2024 Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine's 10-Point Peace Formula, held in Montréal in October 2024, the Toronto conference will provide an opportunity to take stock of progress under the Montreal Pledge, strengthen coordination among partners, and identify practical next steps to support Ukraine's efforts to secure returns and provide rehabilitation and reintegration support.
