In Brussels, the Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children presented new mechanisms reflecting the civil society statement

On 11 May 2026, a High-Level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, co-organised by Ukraine, Canada and the European Union, took place in Brussels. Delegations from 63 countries and international organisations participated in the event. One of the key elements of the meeting was the contribution developed by Ukrainian civil society during the Civil Society & Expert Day held in Kyiv on 30 April.

Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

During the event, more than 40 Ukrainian civil society organisations adopted a joint statement containing 12 specific recommendations for Coalition member states. Onysiia Syniuk, Head of the Research Department at the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, personally handed the document to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha.

The statement became a direct civil society contribution to the discussions in Brussels and was distributed among participants of the High-Level Meeting. In the document, Ukrainian organisations called on Coalition states to increase political and sanctions pressure on Russia, support mechanisms for the identification and return of children, ensure the enforcement of International Criminal Court warrants, and expand support for the reintegration and rehabilitation of returned children.

During the Civil Society & Expert Day, Onysiia Syniuk stressed that the recommendations had been developed on the basis of Ukrainian organisations’ many years of experience in documenting war crimes, returning children, and supporting their rehabilitation.

Photo: Onysiia Syniuk. Photo credit: Bring Kids Back UA

In Brussels, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha specifically highlighted the importance of the Ukrainian delegation arriving at the summit with a statement shaped and supported by civil society.

“We are speaking not only about returning children – we are speaking about a triple return: returning every child, returning Ukraine to every child, and returning childhood to these children. Statements are not enough. Words of sympathy are not enough. What is needed is action – both political and legal – to ensure accountability and bring our children home“, he stressed.

Following the meeting, Coalition participants announced a number of new decisions and commitments. In particular, the United Kingdom will allocate an additional £1.2 million for programmes focused on tracing and verifying data on deported children. The United States confirmed a $25 million programme to support the identification, return, and rehabilitation of children through Ukrainian civil society organisations. The European Union announced €50 million to support Ukraine’s child protection system, while Lithuania pledged €10 million for the search, return, and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children.

Photo: Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission; Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister; Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement. Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Another key area of the decisions focused on strengthening accountability and sanctions mechanisms. Participants agreed to coordinate sanctions against individuals and entities involved in the deportation, indoctrination, and militarised re-education of Ukrainian children. During the meeting, the largest joint sanctions package in this area was announced: the EU imposed sanctions on 16 individuals and 7 entities, the United Kingdom on 12 individuals and 17 entities, and Canada on 23 individuals and 5 entities. Participants also agreed to work together on implementing the UN General Assembly resolution “The Return of Ukrainian Children”, adopted in December 2025.

During the meeting, Cyprus and Switzerland joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. The Coalition now has 49 members in total.

The event also featured cultural initiatives aimed at drawing attention to the human dimension of the deportation of Ukrainian children. In particular, Brussels hosted a screening of the documentary “After the Rain: Putin’s Stolen Children Come Home” by director Sarah McCarthy, as well as a presentation of the “Empty Beds” art installation by Bird of Light Ukraine.

Participants stressed that the deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children are not merely a side effect of the war, but part of Russia’s systematic policy aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity and severing children’s ties with Ukraine.

For the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, participation in preparing the joint civil society statement formed part of its ongoing work on documenting Russian war crimes, advocating for international accountability, and promoting the solutions needed to bring Ukrainian children home.