EU preparing sanctions on 27 over deportation of Ukrainian children
The EU is preparing sanctions against 27 Russian individuals and organizations linked to the deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children, Ukraine's foreign minister said. He also announced a planned international conference in Toronto and new support initiatives for returning children.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media platform X that the European Union is preparing a new package of sanctions against 27 Russian individuals and organizations connected to the deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children. He described this as important progress.
Continued international support
Sybiha noted that Lithuania has allocated 600,000 euros to Ukrainian organizations working on the return and rehabilitation of deported children. Meanwhile, New Zealand has joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, becoming its 51st member.
Toronto conference in the works
The minister said that, together with Canada and Norway, Ukraine is preparing an international conference in Toronto focused on the return of deported Ukrainian children, detained civilians and prisoners of war. The return of children will be one of the main items on the conference agenda.
Sybiha recalled that 103 Ukrainian children were brought home in August, bringing the total number of returned children to 2,525. He stressed, however, that the work is far from finished.
According to the minister, the deportation and forced displacement of Ukrainian children constitutes a crime, and Russia must not be allowed to turn it into a permanent fate for these children. Ukraine's goal, he said, is to secure the return of every Ukrainian child and hold all those responsible accountable.
This follows a proposal presented by the European External Action Service on September 16 at a COREPER meeting for a new sanctions package targeting Russia's military-industrial complex, covering 1,576 listings.
