Lithuanian Foreign Ministry: We will help Ukraine to return the children abducted by Russia

Lithuania will help return abducted Ukrainian children home. This was stated by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budris during the opening of the first international expert-level meeting of the "Safe Roads Home" initiative in Vilnius.transmitsLRT.

Budris reminded that over 1.6 million Ukrainian children remain in the territories occupied by Russia, and the number of children illegally deported to Russia reaches almost 20,000.

"Lithuania will make every effort to ensure that their journey home is safe, dignified and as quick as possible," the minister said.

He added that Lithuania would also assist in the return of Ukrainian soldiers who are held captive by Russia.

"From children to prisoners of war, every life matters," the diplomat said.

The participants of the meeting confirmed that "Europe must remain united, and every person saved is a step towards a common, safe future."

Lithuania joined the "Safe Path Home" initiative at the conference on humanitarian issues of the Ukrainian peace formula, which took place in Canada on October 31, 2024.

The purpose of this initiative is to coordinate international efforts to return abducted Ukrainian children, prisoners of war, and other illegally deported persons from illegal Russian captivity.

• According to the Human Rights Commissioner Lubinets, as of October 2024, the occupiers have abducted over 20,000 children from Ukraine. Another 1.5 million children... may be deported.
• At the negotiations in Istanbul in June Russia has admitted to kidnapping Ukrainian children. Head of the Russian group stated that there were "dozens and hundreds" of children, However, we are talking about "thousands," noted Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Kyslytsia.
• In the USA demanded that Russia return the abducted children to Ukraine before any peace agreement is reached.