On the Return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported to Russia

B100252/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the Return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported to Russia

(2025/2691(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

having regard to its previous resolutions on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, ​

having regard to the Geneva Conventions, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Rome Statute, the Hague Convention, and to resolutions by the PACE;

having regard to the arrest warrants issued by the ICC against Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children,

whereas over 19,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia or Russian-occupied territories, with many subjected to illegal adoption, identity changes, indoctrination and militarisation aimed at erasing their Ukrainian identity; whereas the estimated number of unreported cases is likely to be significantly higher; whereas only 1300 children have returned from deportation, forced transfers or temporarily occupied territories, according to the Bring Kids Back UA initiative founded by President Zelenskyy;

whereas Ukrainian families in the temporarily occupied territories are threatened with the separation of their children if they refuse to exchange their Ukrainian passports for Russian ones;

whereas the forcible transfer of children is a war crime and may amount to genocide under the Genocide Convention;

whereas Russia obstructs efforts to trace and repatriate these children, denies access to international organizations and withholds information from Ukrainian authorities;​

Strongly condemns the violent actions of the Russian Federation and the role of Belarus against Ukrainian children, including killings, injuries, forced transfer and deportation, sexual abuse, exploitation, pro-Russian indoctrination and militarization;

Demands the immediate cessation of these practices and calls for the safe return of all Ukrainian children to their families or legal guardians in Ukraine;​

Insists that the unconditional return of all Ukrainian children, as well as the release of POWs and civilian hostages, must be a precondition for the start of peace negotiations;

Urges Russia to provide comprehensive information on the identities, locations, and current status of all children who have been forcibly transferred or deported and to grant immediate and unhindered access to international organizations to monitor their conditions and facilitate their return;​

Commends the work of civil society organisations and individuals who tirelessly work to rescue Ukrainian children;

Supports the initiative Bring Kids Back UA and International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and calls for active EU and its Members States support and participation; urges the US to maintain its funding to research tracking deportations;

Calls for increased support to Ukrainian institutions and CSOs working on the return and reintegration of affected children;​

Urges the Commission and Member States to utilize all legal instruments to hold to account those responsible and impose additional targeted sanctions against individuals and entities involved in the violent actions against Ukrainian children;​

Regrets that the ICRC does not fulfil its mission in Russia and the Russian-occupied territories;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HR/VP, UN, ICRC and the President and government of Ukraine.