Madam President,
I would like to thank the US presidency for convening this important meeting and would like to address the Council on behalf of the three Baltic States - Estonia, Lithuania and my own country Latvia. We align ourselves with the Statement of the European Union.
We thank all briefers for their valuable contributions and thank Ms. Daria Zarivina, Advisor of the Office of the President of Ukraine for the sobering and heart-breaking statement.
The ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine for almost three years has had a devastating impact on the lives of millions of children, forcing them to endure unimaginable hardship and trauma. Russia’s brutal war of aggression against its neighbour has robbed children of their childhoods, leaving them traumatised by violence, displacement, and uncertainty.
Russia has learned that it cannot destroy Ukraine on the battlefield. Therefore, it purposely and systematically violates international law in an attempt to try to weaken the resilience of Ukrainians as its tactics. Killing, forcibly transferring and deporting Ukrainian children is the most dreadful part of Russia’s policy. Over 2400 children have been reported killed or injured due to the war, while the actual numbers could be much higher. More than 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported or transferred by Russia, subjected to illegal adoption and assimilation in Russia and elsewhere.
Only around 1000 children have been reunited with their families. Make no mistake, this is not just an un-intended side effect of Russia’s aggression, but this is a deliberate and integral tactic of Russia’s warfare, aimed at erasing Ukraine’s future. This is a war crime.
The Baltic States strongly condemn Russia and its accomplices in executing these horrible acts of crime. Urgent collective action is needed to stop Russia's atrocities and facilitate the immediate and safe return of all Ukrainian children. Furthermore, as members of the International Coalition of States for the Return of Deported Ukrainian Children, the Baltic States call on all partners to join the Coalition.
We commend international efforts, especially those led by Qatar, to mediate the return of Ukrainian children who have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred by Russia. We also urge UNICEF and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to actively engage in return of the deported Ukrainian children.
The international community must make every effort to demand accountability from Russia and its accomplices. The arrest warrants issued by the ICC in 2023 for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova were an important step towards bringing perpetrators to justice. Russia and its leaders must be held accountable for the crime of aggression through an international tribunal that enjoys broad support and legitimacy. We also fully support and urge the international community to implement the binding order of the ICJ to halt the military offensive by Russia against Ukraine.
Madam President,
The Baltic States are supporting the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, to strengthen its capacities to investigate and prosecute international crimes committed in Ukraine. In parallel, we provide practical support by assisting implementation of international projects and undertaking our own initiatives in the Baltic States in the field of child protection and care. Ukrainian children deserve a future free from fear and violence.
In conclusion, let me reiterate that the Baltic States support Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defence and reaffirm our full solidarity with Ukraine to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders. Ukraine’s Peace Formula is the only viable path to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We encourage member states to join it and continue supporting just peace, based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law.
I thank you!