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We are at the end of our meeting today.

I kindly ask the representatives of Canada and Ukraine for the closing remarks. Merci beaucoup mes amis.

C'était incroyable d'entendre vos remarques et vos contributions et à ceux et celles dont les pays envisagent de se joindre à la coalition. Nous vous y acquérirons avec grand plaisir.

Ce travail a besoin de davantage de partenaires,

de plus d'outils et de voies concrètes supplémentaires pour aider à ramener les enfants chez eux. J'aimerais vous laisser sur trois brèves réflexions. First, no country can do this alone.

Ukraine cannot do this alone, but we each have tools, relationships, and influence that can help. The strength of this coalition. Is that each partner brings something different.

We all have strengths that we can leverage.

Second, return is only the beginning of recovery.

Rehabilitation, reintegration, family support, psychological care are essential. Helping children rebuild their lives.

Third, our efforts must always be guided by the principle of the best interests of the child. Children are not bargaining chips.

Their rights, safety, and well-being are not negotiable.

Today Canada announced new sanctions against 23 individuals and 5 entities involved in violations against Ukrainian children.

As well as $3.4 million in funding for the OHCHR human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine,

extending our support for an additional two years.

I am also pleased to announce that I've just ratified the convention establishing an international claims Commission for Ukraine.

Canada played an active role as a member of the convention's negotiating committee because Ukrainians should have access to justice,

accountability, and compensation for the damages caused by Russia's aggression. I would like to also specify.

That Canada is honored to co-chair the next conference that will take place in September on the 28th and 29th of that month just after the UN General Assembly in Toronto.

We invite you all there to ensure that we continue to address the needs of Ukraine's children.

And finally,

I want to reiterate that Our work will not end here. We will continue to step up.

In the short term and the long term for Ukraine's security and sovereignty and for the return of Ukraine's children. Thank you. Thank you, dear Anitta.

Anitta, dear Mariana Kotzeva, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of.

Madam President, on behalf of my minister, I would like to say a few remarks, closing remarks.

First of all, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the countries and delegates present here for your firm commitments expressed today,

either sanctions pressure on Russia or financial commitments, or further support of tracing,

reintegration, return and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children. We highly value your support.

Indeed, I think today's meeting showed that the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children has entered a new stage.

We're not, no longer discussing just the problems, we're looking for the solutions and we're building a coordinating. International response to it.

I would like to thank Ukrainian civil society and experts whose recommendations also helped shape today's discussions.

Their work gives the coalition not only expertise but also a human dimension.

What Russia keeps on committing in Ukraine is genocide on a daily basis, it's war crimes on a daily basis,

it's crimes against humanity on a daily basis, and children, the most vulnerable category. Suffers the most.

We definitely need to do more to return each and every child, because time is of the essence.

It's extremely important to understand that every additional month under occupation means more pressure,

more brainwashing, more Russian propaganda, more forced assimilation, more militarization of Ukrainian children. Russia erases our identity.

It's not only about conquering Ukraine or subjugating Ukraine.

It's about erasing Ukraine's national identity, the identity of our children,

the identity of our people, and that's why accountability is so crucial. We spoke a lot today about accountability.

For the 3rd consecutive year, Russia remains on the UN shame list for grave violations against children.

This fact itself speaks volumes, but of course shaming is not enough. Accountability is key.

Accountability of Russia and Russian political and military leadership before the International Criminal Court. Accountability of Russia's political.

Milit leadership before the International Court of Justice,

accountability of Russian political and military leadership before the Special Tribunal for the Crime of aggression to be established under the support of the Council of Europe.

We will tirelessly work with all our international partners to ensure responsibility for everyone involved in deportation,

abduction, illegal adoption, and the militarization of Ukrainian children.

Today we discussed tracing mechanisms, sanctions, reintegration programs,

and the role of the United Nations and of course implementation of the UN resolution on the return of Ukrainian children adopted on December 3 last year.

All of this is extremely necessary, but behind every political mechanism, every political decision,

stands a child who wants something very simple to be reunited with his or her family and to be back home in Ukraine.

What makes this coalition stronger is precisely the partnership and the unity the unity of purpose that was expressed today between Europe, North America and a growing global community of states that understand that the protection of children is not a regional matter,

it is a universal responsibility, and today our coalition continues to grow, and again, I would like to express a warm welcome to Panama. Cyprus, Switzerland, who joined the coalition.

Every new member strengthens our coalition, not only our diplomatic reach, but also our collective ability to act.

And as our Minister Sibila said, the time of statements. Condemnations or words of empathy is gone. We need to act fast, swiftly.

We need to return each and every child back home, and it is extremely important to know the red lines of Ukraine.

Ukrainian children cannot be part of a compromise. They are not a bargaining chip. Ukrainian children must be returned by Russia.

Unconditionally, swiftly and without any conditions, and it is a matter of urgency.

We definitely urge each and every country and delegate present in this hall to continue to support Ukraine's initiatives,

to continue to support our joint initiatives, the European Union, Canada.

And Ukraine, and we warmly welcome the initiative of Canada to hold a summit at the end of September on the return of Ukrainian children.

Madam President, thank you so much, and again,

a huge thanks to all the delegates for their participation and for your firm commitment to Ukraine's children. Thank you.

Meetings like today, I think these are not the kinds of meetings we should ever have to have.

Stealing children from their homes and families is a crime which generates a horror to any person with a conscience.

But after listening to your interventions today,

I'm sure that we will have these kinds of meetings as long as we do not bring all the children home.

One message stands out clearly the work of this coalition is growing, not only in size but in determination.

Over the course of this meeting, we have heard from governments from different regions,

but there is one clear shared conviction that Ukrainian children belong with their families,

in their communities and in Ukraine.

Today's discussions reminded us that this issue goes far beyond statistics.

Behind every number is a child with a name, a language, a family waiting for them, and as we heard earlier today,

the forced deportation, transfer and indoctrination of children is not an unfortunate byproduct of war,

it is a systematic and organized war crime.

This is why our response must also be systematic, coordinated and sustained.

Today, many of you presented concrete contributions support for tracing mechanisms, support for returns,

psychological and social care, documentation and accountability efforts, including sanctions.

Judicial cooperation and diplomatic outreach across regions of the world. These efforts matter enormously.

Every child located and returned is a victory,

and every country that joins this effort strengthens the international resolve that these crimes will not be ignored.

Allow me to also thank our Ukrainian partners for their leadership,

courage and perseverance in extraordinary painful circumstances.

Please know that you are not carrying this burden alone.

Dear Anitta, thank you for your contribution, the contribution of Canada and for inviting us in September to Toronto.

Before we conclude, let me warmly thank all delegations for their active participation today,

and especially those countries and organizations that joined the coalition or expressed interest in deepening cooperation.

I would also like to thank the team of the EEAS and the team from the European Commission,

and my team from DG ENT.

But now our work does not stop here.

Right after this meeting, we will continue our exchange during the reception at the Berlemo.

We wanted this gathering to remain informal and open, a space for frank conversations, new partnerships and continued diplomatic outreach,

particularly with partners from outside the coalition who may wish to contribute to this effort.

Let us continue building the partnerships,

the political momentum and the practical cooperation needed to bring every Ukrainian child home.

As the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Dino, has said, every child matters. Thank you.