UWC President: Abduction of Ukrainian children bars normalization with Russia

Russia’s abduction and forced relocation of Ukrainian children must remain a decisive argument and focal point against any normalization of relations with Moscow, said Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), during the webinar “The Long-Term Impact of Russia’s Abduction of Ukrainian Children” on Feb. 1.

“In politics, economics, culture, or sports — there can be no normal business relations or cooperation with a state that systematically kidnaps children,” Grod said.

The abduction and forced relocation of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation is a deliberate, systematic state policy, planned and executed at the highest levels.

“This isn’t just about the thousands of children being kidnapped today — it’s an attack on the future of the Ukrainian nation: its demographics, identity, language, historical memory, and social cohesion. It’s an attempt to destroy Ukraine and deprive future generations,” Grod added.

He said that this Russian crime must be viewed as an international offense with long-term consequences that will last decades unless the world delivers a clear and consistent response.

“It cannot be treated as a side effect of war or merely a humanitarian tragedy,” he said.

The global Ukrainian community and civil society play a key role in maintaining international pressure to secure the return of these children, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent such crimes from happening again, Grod stressed.

The webinar forms part of the Ukrainian World Congress’s global campaign “Stand With Ukraine: Protect Future Generations,” launched in cooperation with member organizations and partners worldwide to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Events leading up to Feb. 24 can be registered on the campaign’s interactive map, where materials for global actions are also available.

Events leading up to Feb. 24 can be registered on the special interactive map at https://uaworldmap.ukrainianworldcongress.org/, where materials for global events are also available.