On March 27, as part of President Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, a Ukrainian delegation continued its advocacy visit to the United Kingdom, holding meetings in London with government officials, think tanks, and international experts.
The delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office and Chief Operating Officer of Bring Kids Back UA Dariia Zarivna, and Head of the Save Ukraine NGO Mykola Kuleba.
In particular, the meeting was held with Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty, Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice Sarah Sackman, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice Lord Ponsonby.
The primary focus of discussions was the search and identification of Ukrainian children deported by Russia, legal pathways for their return, reintegration, and rehabilitation, and the expansion of mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable. Separately the parties discussed the importance of maintaining international attention on this issue.
The Ukrainian side expressed gratitude to the UK for its support – particularly its active role in the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, cooperation in international legal proceedings, and funding of programs via the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine. At the same time, the UK can play a leadership role in expanding the list of means of returning children.
“This must be a systemic, sustainable tool that will protect not only Ukrainian children, but also children in other regions of the world affected by war and occupation,” said Dariia Zarivna.
Mariana Betsa, for her part, emphasized: "The protection of the most vulnerable victims of Russian aggression – children – must remain an absolute priority. This is not only a humanitarian issue, but also a legal and moral imperative that requires decisive joint actions by Ukraine and the international community".
The delegation also took part in a closed expert roundtable at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, where participants discussed the forced deportation and detention of Ukrainian children in the occupied territories, Russia’s attempts to change their identity, and the challenges of reintegration and rehabilitation of children who have already been brought back.
In addition, members of the delegation gave interviews to several leading international media outlets, emphasizing that the return of Ukrainian children must be unconditional, as it is a crucial component of any future peace settlement.
Deputy Head of the MFA of Ukraine Mariana Betsa, in her interviews with leading media outlets – Financial Times, The Sun, BBC, Times Radio, Channel 4, The Spectator, focused on the issues of returning Ukrainian children deported by the Russian Federation, consolidating international support for Ukraine in countering Russian aggression and establishing a just and lasting peace.
The Deputy Minister also met with the heads of Ukrainian civil society organizations and charitable institutions in the United Kingdom.
The Ukrainian diplomat positively noted the organization by the Ukrainian community in the United Kingdom of a large number of events and actions in support of Ukraine in these difficult times. “The Ukrainian community in the United Kingdom has played an important role in supporting the restoration of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our state since the first days of Russian aggression, and is a powerful voice of Ukraine”, Mariana Betsa emphasized.