Von der Leyen: Return of Ukrainian children must be part of peace deal
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that the return of Ukrainian children must become part of any future peace agreement.
According to Ukrinform, this was announced by the press service of the European Commission following a high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
“Today, representatives of the European Union together with Ukraine and Canada hosted a ‘High-level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children’. This initiative was announced by European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, in her 2025 State of the Union Address,” the statement said.
On behalf of the EU, High Representative and Commission Vice-President, Kaja Kallas, and Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, joined representatives from around 60 countries to reaffirm a “shared commitment to stepping up actions for securing the return of every Ukrainian child forcibly transferred or unlawfully deported by Russia, and to ensuring full accountability for these crimes committed by Russia.”
“Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children taken by Russia remain separated from their country and loved ones. We will not rest until every single one of them is reunited with their families. With €50 million, we're putting concrete support behind our commitment. Strengthening protection systems, providing education and ensuring justice for the stolen children. The return of each child must be part of any peace agreement,” von der Leyen said.
Following the meeting, the EU, Ukraine, and Canada issued joint conclusions reflecting the commitments agreed upon by partners.
Participants agreed on a number of concrete measures, including strengthening tracing and monitoring of abducted children.
“Building on Ukraine's Pilot Tracing Mechanism, the Coalition will expand partnerships, strengthen coordination on the ground, and intensify tracing efforts, including through open-source intelligence,” the European Commission said.
The EU will also provide technical, financial, and institutional support to Ukrainian authorities and civil society organizations working to return illegally deported and forcibly displaced children, according to the conclusions.
As part of efforts to strengthen diplomatic initiatives, the Coalition will deepen engagement at the United Nations and with international partners, promote existing mediation mechanisms, and support both formal and informal channels for the return of children.
The statement said the EU and its partners committed to expanding reintegration support through early childhood education and care, child protection, emergency education, and the next phase of family- and community-based care reform.
“The Coalition will step up support for investigations and legal proceedings related to the unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children; strengthen Ukraine's investigative capacity; support child-friendly justice, access to compensation; and accountability for indoctrination, so-called ‘re-education’, and militarization of Ukrainian children,” the conclusions stated.
Partners also agreed to introduce further coordinated sanctions and targeted lists against those responsible for the illegal deportation, forced transfer, “re-education,” and militarization of Ukrainian children, as well as those complicit in or connected to such activities.
To support these efforts, the EU will mobilize additional €50 million to strengthen Ukraine’s child protection system, expand child- and community-centered services, support preschool education, improve access to justice, and reinforce digital systems, including those used for compensation claims.
The European Commission recalled that since the start of the war, more than 20,500 Ukrainian children have been recorded as unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred to Russia or to temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
“Russia's systematic efforts to conceal the identities and whereabouts of these children make sustained, coordinated international action more urgent than ever,” the Commission emphasized.
As previously reported, the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children was established in Kyiv in February 2024.
The Coalition, co-chaired by Ukraine and Canada, welcomed the EU as a full member in September 2025. It currently brings together 49 countries and international organizations, serving as the central platform for coordinating diplomatic, humanitarian, legal, and information efforts to counter the illegal deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children.
Photo: European Union