Check against delivery! 

Thank you Chair and thank you Members for your contributions. 

You would need a heart of stone not to be touched by the contributions many of you have made this evening. It is unconscionable that children have been forcibly removed from Ukraine and taken to the perpetrators of the war, Russia. And it is beyond time that they were returned to their rightful place, their home in Ukraine. And we must all work together to achieve this.  

Today’s discussion demonstrated a strong and united commitment in addressing the deportation and forced transfer of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children. The timing is critical – behind every number there is a story of a stolen childhood. Russia has and continues to violate international law and the rights of the child. The return of the Ukrainian children remains a top priority for Ukraine and forms an integral part of broader peace efforts. 

The EU will continue to be at the forefront of efforts to ensure there will be no impunity for the crimes committed in and against Ukraine. This means that the EU will continue to support the entire accountability process — from evidence collection to prosecution and reparations. 

The EU will continue to impose sanctions on those responsible for the deportation and forced transfer as well as re-education and militarisation of Ukrainian children, adding to the 86 individuals and institutions who are currently listed. 

In parallel, the EU will continue to support united efforts and Ukrainian initiatives through the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and the “Bring kids back UA” campaign. 

Honourable Members,  

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is a threat against global peace and security. 

As the EU, we will continue to uphold international law and the rules-based order. The protection and return of Ukrainian children is not only a humanitarian duty — it is an investment in a just and lasting peace.  

Thank you. 

Link to the video [starting at from 27:09]: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-271387