High Representative/Vice-President Kallas, answering a parliamentary question on 14 July 2026, outlined the EU's continued efforts to secure the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred or deported by Russia, announcing nearly EUR 50 million to reinforce Ukraine's child protection system. The funding, unveiled at the High-Level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children on 11 May 2026, aims to ensure returned children have access to child-centred services, early childhood education, and justice, while also enabling compensation claims. The answer, addressed to 49 MEPs led by Sophie Wilmès (Renew), reaffirms EU support for the Bring Kids Back initiative and documentation efforts, including through the EU-sponsored UN General Assembly resolution of 3 December 2025. Kallas stressed that the return of children must be part of any peace agreement, echoing earlier calls by Commission President von der Leyen and the European Parliament. The EU has sanctioned over 130 individuals and entities involved in the deportations and supports Ukrainian authorities and civil society in documenting and prosecuting these crimes.
The response, however, lacks new numerical targets or concrete timelines for repatriation, focusing instead on existing commitments and financial support. The EU's stance underscores a cleavage between humanitarian protection and the practical challenges of securing returns from Russian-controlled territories, with Ukrainian children and families as primary stakeholders, alongside EU taxpayers funding the aid and Russian authorities facing sanctions and accountability pressure.