The participants of the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension on the Peace Formula, which took place in Montreal, Canada, have adopted a Joint Communiqué, according to which they commit to facilitate the return of all captured and deported Ukrainians.
‘The communiqué reflects a common set of principles that will guide the conference participants in the future, demonstrates unwavering support for Ukraine's victory, and condemns any country that helps Russia carry out its aggression,’ the Presidential Office said in a statement.
The participants agreed to strengthen Ukraine's cooperation with partners and international organisations to address humanitarian issues and ensure compliance with the Geneva Conventions. One of the most important points is the search for trusted intermediary countries to negotiate with Russia on the return of Ukrainian soldiers, civilians and children home.
It was also proposed to create mechanisms that would allow Ukrainians in Russia to receive consular services with the help of intermediaries.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said that Ukraine had received concrete results from the conference, which many Ukrainian families had been waiting for. According to him, the network created includes specific countries that have promised to assist Ukraine in returning children in a meaningful way.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly stressed that Qatar, the Vatican, South Africa, Lithuania and the United Arab Emirates have made specific commitments to return deported children and prisoners to Ukraine.
In particular, Qatar, the Vatican and South Africa will mediate the process of negotiating the return of children, and Qatar and Lithuania will serve as transit countries for their return home. The United Arab Emirates remains a mediator in the negotiations on the exchange of prisoners of war.
In addition, a group of countries will be formed to cooperate with Ukraine to search for information about captured Ukrainians, including children, and to provide support in collecting and verifying data.
The conference participants also pledged to support Ukraine in the reintegration of returnees. In addition, information about Russia's illegal detention and ill-treatment of Ukrainian civilian and prisoners of war, deportation and forced displacement of children will be disseminated through strategic communication campaigns.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stressed the importance of international humanitarian organisations' access to Ukrainian prisoners of war and their participation in the return of deported children.
With this event, Ukraine and dozens of partner countries conclude the holding of thematic conferences based on individual points of the Peace Formula. From August to November, nine such meetings were held, each of which resulted in a Joint Communiqué.
Based on all of these developments, work will begin on proposals for the second Peace Summit. In total, more than 70 states and international organisations took part in the conference.