French and Canadian MFAs to create roadmap for returning Ukrainian children abducted by Russia

Ukrinform reported the information, citing statements by the diplomatic agencies.

The statement emphasized that the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine's 10-Point Peace Formula, scheduled to take place in Montreal on October 30-31, will provide an opportunity for collaborative efforts to achieve these goals. This includes developing a roadmap with specific measures for the return of Ukrainian children who have fallen victim to Russia's war of aggression.

The Foreign Ministries of France and Canada call on the international community not to forget about Ukrainian children, whose present and future have already been affected by the war.

The ministers emphasized their condemnation of war crimes, including murder and sexual violence against Ukrainian children, as well as attacks on schools and hospitals, and the forced illegal transfers and deportations of Ukrainian children. Both the French and Canadian foreign ministries have demanded that Russia return these children to their families, legal guardians, and communities.

The parties committed to supporting the efforts and mediation aimed at the return of Ukrainian children, under the co-chairmanship of Canada and Ukraine and with the support of France.

The communiqué stated that they will continue to support the hosting and protection of Ukrainian children, as well as their access to all essential services, healthcare, and education.

France, in particular, promised to “increase its financial support to a number of civil society actors and the United Nations in order to achieve these goals.”

The Ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine and its people to provide them with all means to defend themselves and put an end to Russian aggression.

• As of October 2, it is known that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has illegally abducted more than 20,000 Ukrainian children. Currently, there is a risk of deportation of another 1.5 million children who remain in the temporarily occupied territories.