Thread by @ZelenskyyUa

At the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children Summit at the leaders’ level I said: this year we’ll introduce a resolution condemning child abduction and deportation. Forcibly taking children to re-educate for another nation is a crime. The UN must say this clearly.

I hope this format will bring progress in solving a very sensitive issue – the fate of Ukrainian children. Thousands are victims of Russia’s double crime: abducted and deported, and now tries to steal their culture, character, their bond with family, and their identity.

Maybe not everyone is a parent. But everyone knows how quickly children grow, how precious every moment is, how fragile their first steps in life can be. The greatest gift is a normal childhood. The lowest crime – replacing it with war and its cruelty. We need real results – the actual return of all abducted children.

It is fair and symbolic that the first crime Putin has been charged with is his crime against children. I thank every country that enforces the ICC warrant. This matters. And it must not be forgiven.

Thanks to our “Bring Kids Back UA” initiative and the support of partners, 1,625 children have already returned to Ukraine. Each return is a success, a child saved, but also a challenge, as reintegration and protection from trauma are needed.

The First Lady of Ukraine contributes to reintegration projects for abducted children. I welcome all to join. We are also starting a Tracing Mechanism to collect data on displaced children. Russia hides the truth, so this work is crucial to hold those responsible accountable.

I urge you: in every sanctions package, increase pressure on Russian politicians, officials, judges, propagandists, and others involved in child abductions and the attempt to “re-program” their mind.

All this is known – the camps where abducted children are taught hatred, the institutions involved, even structures of Russia’s state church used to erase children’s Ukrainian identity. Those who act rather than close their eyes defend humanity.

Everyone in Russia involved in child abduction, “re-education” and abuse will be sanctioned. Sanctions packages are never easy. But adding those guilty of crimes against children makes this work stronger and gives it moral force.

In Türkiye, we gave Russia’s representatives an initial list of 339 children. Just a small part of the thousands we must save. So far, Russia has done almost nothing. They refuse to give real information neither to us, nor to international organisations.

Let the result of this Coalition meeting be support for initiatives to find, return and reintegrate our children – and real pressure on Russia through sanctions. We must turn attention into action.

We need your support in the General Assembly. This year we’ll introduce a resolution condemning the abduction and deportation of children. Forcibly taking them from one nation and trying to re-educate for the benefit of another is an obvious crime. The UN must say this clearly again. So the crime must be stopped. The felons must be held accountable. Ukrainian children must be brought home.