Ukraine and Lithuania have officially adopted a Joint Declaration, outlining measures to protect, rehabilitate, rrehabilitate and reintegrate Ukrainian children. This was announced by Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sybiha, following negotiations with his Lithuanian counterpart, Kęstutis Budrys.
During the meeting, issues of cooperation in defense and security were discussed, as well as opportunities to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy through an agreement on unmanned aerial vehicles between Ukraine and the EU. Minister Sybiha confirmed a commitment to dispatch an expert team to Lithuania to exchange expertise on airspace protection.
Key aspects of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union were also discussed, including the urgency of opening all negotiation clusters. Gratitude was expressed to the Lithuanian side for their firm stance on this matter.
Particular attention was given to supporting Ukrainian children affected by military actions. Lithuania is committed to allocating €10 million to implement the relevant measures outlined in the Joint Declaration.
Notably, efforts regarding the protection and return of abducted Ukrainian children are consolidating on an international level. Specifically, Austria’s National Council unanimously passed a resolution, and a bipartisan initiative in the U.S. Senate was introduced to ensure the return of children to Ukraine before a peace agreement is signed. During the Ministerial Conference in Montreal, Canada, a communiqué was adopted pledging to address humanitarian issues and uphold international law.
According to British intelligence, over 11,000 Ukrainian children are being held in specialized facilities in Russia. Ukraine’s President has documented approximately 20,000 cases of child deportations from Ukrainian territories.
The Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights reported that forced transfers continued. Sanctions are being imposed against those involved in these actions. International actors and institutions are actively working to find solutions to return the children and support the families affected.
