Canada seeks global support to repatriate deported Ukrainian children

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is seeking global support to repatriate Ukrainian children deported to Russia since the war began. At a conference in Montreal, she urged over 60 delegations to pledge to help return these children and other civilians. The Ukrainian government estimates that around 19,500 children have been deported, with only 998 returned so far. Finding these children is difficult, as their names are often changed. Joly emphasized the need for international cooperation in this effort. Canada is co-chairing a working group focused on the release of prisoners and civilians, alongside Ukraine and Norway. This initiative is part of a broader peace plan proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in November 2022.