Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a high-level event calling for the urgent return of more than 20,000 Ukrainian children taken from their families following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The gathering, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, spotlighted the plight of children forcibly removed from occupied territories and, in many cases, adopted by Russian families with no prior connection to them. Ukrainian officials have described the removals as a systematic campaign to erase cultural identity and sever familial ties.
President Zelenskyy emphasized the emotional and psychological toll on the children and their families, calling the practice a violation of international humanitarian law. Taoiseach Martin echoed the call for accountability, stating that the international community must act decisively to reunite children with their rightful guardians.
Prime Minister Carney underscored the need for coordinated diplomatic and legal efforts to ensure safe repatriation and long-term support for affected families. The leaders urged global institutions to prioritize child protection and uphold the rights enshrined in the Geneva Conventions.
The event marked a unified appeal for justice and reinforced growing international pressure on Russia to cease the practice and cooperate with humanitarian agencies.
President Zelenskiy and Employees of Ukrainian Defense Enterprises
