Several countries have committed to facilitating the return of deported and captured Ukrainians to their homeland.
As commented by Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, the joint declaration by these countries will help coordinate efforts to locate missing Ukrainians, as reported by "Deutsche Welle". She specified that among the countries that have pledged to assist in the return of deported children and prisoners are Qatar, South Africa, the Vatican, Lithuania, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
"Human lives must be protected. Children, civilians, and prisoners of war need to come home," Joly stated.
The minister also outlined the role each country will play in the process of returning Ukrainians home. Qatar, the Vatican, and South Africa will act as mediators in negotiations for the return of Ukrainians. Additionally, Qatar and Lithuania will serve as transit countries for their return. The UAE will remain mediators in negotiations concerning the exchange of prisoners of war.
Missing and Deported
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nearly 42,000 Ukrainians are considered missing. In Russia, almost 20,000 children were deported, of which only 860 have been returned.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced the establishment of a group consisting of countries that will cooperate in searching for captive Ukrainians, including children, and will assist in collecting and verifying data.