On 15 December, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mariana Betsa took part in a joint briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on the occasion of International Migrants Day, during which the Diaspora Alliance for Recovery of Ukraine was officially launched.

A special guest of the briefing, who addressed participants online, was Ylva Johansson, the Special Envoy for Ukrainians in the EU.

During the briefing, the Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Uliutin; Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Ilona Havronska; Head of the Mission of the Ukrainian World Congress in Ukraine Andriy Shevchenko; Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Ukraine Maximilian Rasch; Deputy Head of the IOM Mission in Ukraine Dejan Keserovic; and Italy’s Special Envoy for Ukraine’s Reconstruction Davide La Cecilia (online) delivered their remarks.

In her address, Mariana Betsa emphasized: “Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homes due to Russian aggression – both within the country and abroad – remain an integral part of the Ukrainian nation. Our goal is to ensure that every Ukrainian feels the support of the state, and that the assistance provided by the global Ukrainian community contributes to the recovery of Ukraine. An important role in supporting these processes is played by countries that have offered refuge, as well as by international partners, among which the activities of the International Organization for Migration are of particular importance.”

The Deputy Minister expressed her sincere gratitude to states and international organizations for their consistent support of Ukraine and Ukrainians abroad.

One of the key elements of the event was the announcement by the Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Uliutin of the launch of the Diaspora Alliance for Recovery of Ukraine.

It is envisaged that the Alliance’s work will cover economic cooperation, social cohesion and community development, the return and reintegration of Ukrainians, as well as the systematic collection of data and research necessary for effective coordination and policy development.

“In this context, we are launching the Diaspora Alliance for the Recovery of Ukraine – a coordination instrument designed to transform the solidarity of Ukrainians abroad and international partners into coordinated, concrete, and long-term actions aligned with Ukraine’s national priorities. In addition, the Alliance aims to reduce duplication of initiatives and enhance the effectiveness of support programs,” Minister Denys Uliutin stressed.

Participants in the event highlighted the significant contribution of the IOM to supporting Ukraine amid the ongoing full-scale war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, in particular the importance of the IOM Strategic Response Plan for Ukraine and neighboring countries for 2024–2026.

The IOM’s work in the areas of humanitarian response, recovery, and support for displaced persons is an integral part of international efforts aimed at mitigating the consequences of Russian aggression.