Delegation of Canada Délégation du Canada to the OSCE auprès de l’OSCE STATEMENT BY DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE ESTHER VAN NES UNDER AGENDA ITEM: The Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine 1546 th MEETING OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL 18 December 2025 Mister Chair, Canada supports all genuine efforts to bring an end to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. No country seeks peace more urgently than Ukraine. Ukraine has demonstrated this repeatedly by constructively engaging in negotiations even as Russia intensifies strikes on civilian energy systems and other critical infrastructure essential to sustaining daily life, like pharmaceutical facilities and medical institutions, as evidenced in recent reporting by ODIHR and the WHO. A durable peace must be just, consistent with international law, and negotiated with Ukraine fully and meaningfully at the table. Last week, the Russian Federation asked this Council to provide the names and numbers of Ukrainian children who have been illegally deported or forcibly transferred. That question is profoundly disingenuous. To demand that others account for crimes committed under Russia’s authority is simply an attempt to deflect responsibility and obscure accountability for actions that are both morally reprehensible and illegal under international law. The evidence is credible and compelling. Corroborated data of family testimonies, survivor interviews, satellite imagery, open-source information, including research and publications conducted by international organizations and academic institutions indicates that thousands of Ukrainian children have been displaced since Russia’s initial invasion in 2014, with deportations accelerating dramatically after February 2022. Russian officials themselves – notably Maria Lvova-Belova, the Children's Rights Commissioner for the President of the Russian Federation – have publicly claimed that over 744,000 Ukrainian children have “arrived” in Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion, describing these movements as “evacuations” or “rescues”. Each child represents a distinct human tragedy, severed from family, language, culture, and legal protection. Establishing the exact whereabouts and identities of involved children is an ongoing and painstaking process. It is made more difficult by Russia’s continued occupation of Ukrainian territory, and its systematic obstruction of investigations. But while individual cases continue to be verified, the underlying fact is not in dispute: large-scale deportations and illegal transfers of Ukrainian children have occurred. The OSCE Secretariat bears no responsibility for the content of this document and circulates it without altering its content. The distribution by OSCE Conference Services of this document is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States. PC.DEL/1356/25 18 December 2025 ENGLISH only
In response, the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children advocates for the identification and safe return of these children, champions their rights under international law, and promotes measures to ensure their rehabilitation and reintegration in line with the best interests of the child. The Coalition continues to grow. Monaco and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly recently announced their intention to join. Many partners contribute quietly but with resolve. We encourage all participating States to join this Coalition to send a clear message: that the protection of children and the prevention of their exploitation in armed conflict are shared responsibilities. Equally, we call on States that have supported or facilitated Russia’s actions in this regard to cease doing so. Instead, States could use whatever influence or access they possess to help establish the identities and whereabouts of these Ukrainian children, and to facilitate their safe return to their families, loved ones, and lawful caregivers. Complicity, whether through action, inaction, or political cover, only prolongs the suffering of these children and risks implicating others in grave violations of international law. Instead of attempting to shift blame, Russia should meet its obligations under international humanitarian law, by disclosing the whereabouts of these children and facilitating their return. Finally, I wish to address the continued unlawful detention by Russia of three OSCE staff members: Dmytro, Maksym, and Vadym. During the Ministerial Council, Canada’s Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs met with Margaryta Shabanova, the wife of Dmytro, to sign a letter that we expect will reach him in Omsk, Siberia, thousands of kilometres from where he was unlawfully detained. His well-being, like that of the other detainees, remains a serious concern. These individuals were carrying out their official duties under an agreed mandate and according to the OSCE were entitled to functional immunities which continue in perpetuity. Their detentions are unacceptable and a direct challenge to the integrity of the OSCE itself. We further note with deep concern that, to our knowledge, the International Committee of the Red Cross has not been granted access to these detainees, raising additional humanitarian and legal concerns. We also understand that no official of the OSCE has visited them. Canada calls on the Secretary General to intensify all efforts to secure the immediate release of our three OSCE colleagues, and we urge the Russian Federation to comply and to release them without delay. Thank you, Mr. Chair.