UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return ‘Forcibly Transferred’ Ukrainian Children

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday urged the immediate and unconditional return of Ukrainian children allegedly “forcibly transferred” to Russia — a highly sensitive issue as Kyiv and Moscow attempt to negotiate an end to the war.

The non-binding resolution passed with 91 votes in favor, 12 against, and 57 abstentions, with Russia firmly rejecting it. The measure demands that Moscow ensure “the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported,” and calls on Russia to halt any further relocations, separations from families, changes of citizenship status, adoptions, foster placements, or political indoctrination.

Ukraine says Russia has abducted at least 20,000 children since the invasion began in February 2022. Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa described it as “the largest state abduction operation in history,” noting that more than 1,850 children have been located and brought back. “There will be no just peace in Ukraine without the immediate unconditional return of our children,” she told the Assembly.

Russia denies the accusations, insisting some children were moved from combat zones for safety. Moscow’s deputy UN envoy Maria Zabolotskaya denounced the resolution as filled with “mendacious accusations,” arguing that “each vote for the resolution is a support for lies, war and confrontation.”

The vote comes as the United States — which supported the measure — presses both Kyiv and Moscow to accept a US-backed peace plan. Those efforts have repeatedly stalled while Russia continues slow, costly advances on the battlefield. President Donald Trump had initially set a November 27 deadline for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to respond to his latest proposal, which reportedly included ceding territory — a position Kyiv has rejected outright. Discussions, however, remain ongoing.

Zelensky, after recent talks in Geneva with US negotiators, praised progress on “extremely sensitive points” such as the return of children whom Ukraine says were abducted.

EU Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis stressed that “the abducted children of Ukraine cannot wait for the final outcome” of peace talks or for Russia’s decision on ending the war.

Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian children has been under rising international scrutiny. Since 2023, the Russian military has appeared on a UN blacklist for grave violations of children’s rights in conflict zones. That same year, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin, citing “reasonable grounds to believe” he bears responsibility for the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.