On June 23, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mariana Betsa held a meeting with UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban, who is on a working visit to Ukraine.

Mariana Betsa expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its steadfast support for Ukraine and for the Fund’s important role in assisting Ukrainian children and families affected by Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.

“Ukraine highly values UNICEF’s contribution to supporting Ukrainian children during this extremely difficult period. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the organization has mobilized substantial resources to assist millions of Ukrainians. Behind these numbers are the lives of millions of Ukrainian children whose childhood has become a victim of Russia’s war. This is why UNICEF’s contribution goes far beyond humanitarian assistance - it is also about protecting an entire generation of Ukrainian children,” Mariana Betsa emphasized.

The interlocutors paid particular attention to the situation in Ukraine’s frontline areas, particularly in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which Ted Chaiban visited as part of his trip to Ukraine. They discussed the current humanitarian needs of children and families living near the front line, as well as priority steps to ensure their access to education, healthcare and social services.

Mariana Betsa and Ted Chaiban also focused on the opportunities for cooperation aimed at further expanding First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska’s School Nutrition Reform initiative.

The participants additionally discussed some practical aspects of implementing UN General Assembly Resolution ES-11/9 “The Return of Ukrainian Children.” The Deputy Minister highlighted UNICEF’s important role in supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of Ukrainian children abducted by the aggressor state and returned from the Russian Federation.

For his part, Ted Chaiban reaffirmed UNICEF’s unwavering support for Ukraine and confirmed the organization’s readiness to continue working together to protect the rights and well-being of children, support Ukrainian families, and strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable communities.