Canadian, Norwegian and Ukrainian ambassadors in Lithuania sign plea to return detainees

The ambassadors of Canada, Norway and Ukraine to Lithuania have co-signed an open letter pledging joint efforts to bring home every deported child, detained civilian and prisoner of war affected by Russia's war against Ukraine.

The letter recalls that every morning at 9:00, Ukraine observes a nationwide minute of silence in remembrance of those killed in the war. Air-raid loudspeakers instead broadcast a ticking clock, traffic halts, and daily life pauses across the country to honour the fallen and the thousands of civilian victims.

According to the ambassadors, this daily pause also reflects the absence felt by families still waiting for missing loved ones. Among those not yet home are thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and unlawfully deported by Russia, many stripped of their language, culture and identity. Others are civilians unlawfully held in Russian-occupied territories, often punished for speaking their language, expressing their culture, or opposing the occupation. Some detainees have been moved to facilities inside Russia, where they are denied contact with relatives, adequate medical care and independent oversight.

Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia face similarly troubling conditions, the letter says. Returnees have described harsh treatment, and independent bodies have documented widespread abuse, including torture and sexual violence.

The ambassadors describe these practices as repeated, well-documented violations of international law carried out at scale, and stress that no single country or organisation can resolve the issue alone — it requires sustained cooperation among governments, international bodies, humanitarian actors and civil society.

To advance that effort, Canada, Norway and Ukraine will host foreign ministers and international partners in Toronto on September 28 and 29 for the second international conference on returning Ukrainian deported children, detained civilians and prisoners of war, titled "Pathways to Peace". The gathering builds on a 2024 ministerial conference held by the three countries in Canada and aims to support Ukraine's efforts to return, rehabilitate and reintegrate those affected.

The letter's co-authors are Canadian Ambassador Jeannette Sautner, Ukrainian Ambassador Olga Nikitčenko, and Norwegian Ambassador Atle Konta Midttun, who say every person returned reunites a family, strengthens a community, and contributes to rebuilding Ukraine.