Ukraine's foreign minister calls Russian proposal to include Ukrainian children in exchange lists "unacceptable"

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that Russia has proposed including deported Ukrainian children in exchange lists but stressed that such a step is categorically unacceptable for Ukraine.

Source: Sybiha's speech during a meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children in Brussels, as reported by Ukrinform

Details: The foreign minister said that the return of deported children is a fundamental element of the peace process. He stressed that children's freedom is unconditional and that their inclusion in exchange lists, as proposed by Moscow, is absolutely unacceptable.

Quote: "The return of Ukrainian children must be a fundamental element of the peace process. There has been much speculation. Today I want to state this officially: the fate of Ukrainian children will never become part of any compromise. Russia has already proposed that children be included in exchange lists. But this is unacceptable. Children's freedom is unconditional."

Details: Sybiha noted that Ukraine has already managed to bring back more than 2,000 children. Meanwhile, he sharply criticised existing international mechanisms, saying that children are coming home not because of them, but in spite of their ineffectiveness.

The foreign minister also drew parallels between Russia's current actions and the crimes committed by Nazi Germany during World War II. He quoted two nearly identical statements – one from Borys Romanchenko, who was deported by the Nazis at the age of 16, and another by a boy from Mariupol after his deportation by the Russian occupying forces: "They simply took us away – and you no longer belong to anyone" and "They simply took us away and told us that nobody needed us."

The minister also mentioned the Dossin Barracks in Belgium, which served as a transit point before Auschwitz, and the attack on the Twentieth Convoy, one of the heroic acts of World War II that halted forced deportations.

Quote: "The Russians are afraid of this issue and are trying to downplay its importance. They understand that they are committing a crime, and they fear justice. Today we must stop this convoy once again."

Background:

• On 11 May, it became known that the European Commission would allocate €50 million to help Ukraine hold Russia accountable and reintegrate children who have been returned home.
• In addition, Lithuania pledged more than €10 million to support initiatives related to the return of children abducted by Russia, psychological and medical rehabilitation, strengthening the child protection system and ensuring accountability for crimes.
• On Monday 11 May, the Council of the European Union imposed sanctions on 16 individuals and seven legal entities responsible for the systematic illegal deportation, forced transfer and forced assimilation – including militarised education – of Ukrainian minors, as well as their illegal adoption and transfer to Russia and the temporarily occupied territories.

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