On April 16, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced the launch of a new international campaign titled #ChildrenAreNotNegotiable, which translates to "Children are not negotiable." The primary goal of this initiative is to raise awareness in the global community about over 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been abducted or forcibly displaced by Russia.
The minister shared this announcement on social media platform X.
#ChildrenAreNotNegotiable: An International Campaign for the Protection of Ukrainian Children
The campaign was launched during Holy Week preceding Easter. The head of the ministry observed that not every Ukrainian family can reunite during these festive days as thousands of children remain abducted by Russia, "separated from their families, homes, and homeland."
"Today we are initiating the international campaign #ChildrenAreNotNegotiable to remind everyone about at least 20,000 Ukrainian children forcibly displaced by Russia," Sybiha stated.
He emphasized that since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Russia has undertaken "systematic steps to erase Ukrainian identity by abducting children, re-educating them, and placing them in Russian families."
The minister highlighted the urgent need for further investigation into these crimes and to hold all perpetrators accountable.
"Achieving a just and lasting peace requires the return of all these Ukrainian children home," he stated. Sybiha urged his colleagues – foreign ministers from around the world – to join the #ChildrenAreNotNegotiable campaign and express support for the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
How many Ukrainian children has Russia abducted?
Andrii Yermak, head of the President's Office, stated that Russia continues to commit crimes against Ukrainian children, holding up to 1.6 million minors under its control – either deported or living in occupied territories.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for the illegal deportation of children.
Additionally, the White House's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, halted funding for the Yale University Humanitarian Research Laboratory, which had been assisting in the search for Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.