The European Union, in partnership 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.
This initiative, announced by President Ursula von der Leyen during her 2025 State of the Union address, aims to unite international partners with the fundamental objective of facilitating the return of all Ukrainian children unlawfully taken by Russia. The meeting will emphasise the importance of reintegrating these children into their families, cultures, and societies, while also holding Russia accountable for its actions.
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.”
The meeting will be co-hosted by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, representing the European Union, alongside the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada, Anita Anand. Together, they will support Ukraine’s efforts to trace, return, and reintegrate these children, ensuring accountability for those responsible for the violations. Participants will also consider strategies to enhance coordinated sanctions against individuals implicated in these offences.
Moreover, the meeting will explore recommendations developed by civil society and experts during the Civil Society Expert Day, which took 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 temporarily occupied territories since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The systematic efforts by Russia to conceal the identities and locations of these children underscore the urgent need for sustained international support.
The European Union, alongside its partners, is supporting Ukraine in returning its children home. 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 joining in September 2025. This coalition unites 47 countries and international organisations to coordinate efforts in addressing the issue of child deportation and mobilises global support.
