On May 6, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa held a meeting with Thórdís Gylfadóttir, Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the Situation of the Children of Ukraine.

Mariana Betsa thanked Thórdís Gylfadóttir for her personal leadership, consistent support for Ukraine, and active efforts in protecting the rights of Ukrainian children illegally deported and forcibly displaced by the Russian Federation.

“Russia is waging war not only against the Ukrainian state, but also against Ukrainian identity and the future. That is precisely why bringing every Ukrainian child back home is an unconditional priority and a matter of justice for us,” Mariana Betsa emphasized.

The Deputy Minister noted the importance of the Council of Europe’s continuous attention to the issue of protecting Ukrainian children, as well as the organization's role in advancing international accountability mechanisms, human rights protection, and the rule of law in the face of Russian aggression. The parties dedicated special attention to the issues of accountability for crimes committed against Ukrainian children.

Mariana Betsa and Thórdís Gylfadóttir discussed preparations for the high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which will take place on May 11 in Brussels at the initiative of Ukraine, Canada, and the EU. The discussion focused particularly on the need to strengthen international coordination in the areas of returning children, their reintegration, documenting crimes, and holding the perpetrators accountable.

Mariana Betsa stressed that Ukraine counts on the active participation of the Council of Europe in the work of the Coalition and emphasized the importance of the Organization’s contribution to protecting children's rights in Ukraine through its expertise, standards, training programs, and methodological support.