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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2025/2691(RSP))

On Return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia

B-10-2025-0249

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Villy Søvndal, Sergey Lagodinsky, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Mounir Satouri, Maria Ohisalo, Catarina Vieira, Ville Niinistö

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This resolution condemns Russia's abduction, re-education, and illegal adoption of Ukrainian children, calling for their immediate return and for prosecution of these crimes. It urges the EU and Member States to pressure Russia, support ICC warrants, activate the Blocking Statute, and ensure continued research on the deportations.

Key points

  1. Condemns in the strongest terms the abduction, re-education, and illegal adoption of Ukrainian children by Russian authorities, considering these may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
  2. Demands the immediate return of all deported children to Ukrainian-held territories in Ukraine.
  3. Calls on the EU and Member States to use all tools to pressure Russia into returning all children and enable prosecution in line with international law.
  4. Calls on Member States to invigorate multilateral advocacy, including through a UNGA resolution on the issue.
  5. Reiterates support for ICC arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova and calls on Rome Statute signatories to implement them.
  6. Calls on the Commission to urgently activate the Blocking Statute and on Member States to increase diplomatic efforts to protect the ICC.
  7. Regrets the pausing of US federal funds for Yale Humanitarian Research Lab's investigation and calls on the EU and Member States to ensure this research and data collection continues.

Who is affected

  • Russian authorities: condemned for abduction and re-education, demanded to return children.
  • EU and Member States: urged to pressure Russia, support ICC, and fund research.
  • Ukrainian children: subject of return demands and protection.

Figures and deadlines

  • over 19,000 children forcibly transferred since 2022
  • as high as 35,000 as of March 2025