This transcript was automatically generated and may contain errors.

So, I ask, all of you to watch a video addressed by President von der Leyen. Please, can we show the video?

Mr President Zelensky, dear Volodymyr, Prime Minister Carney, dear Mark, thank you for hosting this event together.

On an issue that is so dear to our hearts. Ministers, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Last year I met two Ukrainian heroes. I will never forget. A young boy named Sasha. And his grandmother Ljudmila.

Sasha was only 11 when Russian soldiers took him from his mother. They wanted to bring him to Russia.

Give him Russian parents, a Russian passport, a Russian life. But Sasha rebelled.

With the help of his grandmother and the Ukrainian government, he managed to go back to free Ukraine.

Today, Sasha shares his story with as many as he can.

Because he's still trying to find his mother.

But also because he wants all the Ukrainian children like him to get back to their homes.

When I met Sasha, I promised that we would do all we can to help.

This is why we decided to join forces with Ukraine and Canada and to invite all of you to Brussels today.

Tens of thousands of boys and girls remain trapped in Russia.

Frightened and longing for their families and loved ones.

Many have already been rescued thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian government, civil society,

and all of you in the International Coalition for the return of Ukrainian children.

But every child that is helded captive is one too many.

We will not rest until every single one of them is reunited with their families.

Today we gather to make a practical contribution.

With support to trace and return as many children as possible. And with sanctions against the perpetrators.

But we also want to send a political message.

The return of each and every Ukrainian child taken by Russia must be a central point in any peace agreement.

Because how can a nation choose its own future if its children are denied theirs? Their freedom is Ukraine's freedom. Their future is our future too.

So thank you all for being here today, and let's bring them home.