Nations Unite in Montreal Pledge to Repatriate Deported Ukrainian Citizens

In October 2024, a two-day ministerial conference in Montreal, Canada, concluded with over 45 nations signing the "Montreal Pledge," committing to the repatriation of Ukrainian civilians, prisoners of war, and children forcibly taken to Russia since the invasion. The summit, co-hosted by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Espen Barth Eide, focused on the humanitarian aspects of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, reports have emerged of Ukrainian civilians, including children, being forcibly deported to Russia. Minister Sybiha reported that nearly 42,000 Ukrainians were missing, including almost 20,000 children deported to Russia. At the time of the conference, 860 children had been successfully returned to Ukraine.

The "Montreal Pledge" outlined concrete steps to facilitate the return of Ukrainian captives and deportees. Participating countries agreed to coordinate efforts to gather information on Ukrainians held in Russia and to establish safe pathways for their return. Qatar, South Africa, and the Holy See committed to acting as intermediaries in negotiations for the return of prisoners of war, civilians, and children. Lithuania and Qatar were designated as transit countries for those released. The pledge also emphasized support for Ukraine in reintegrating returned citizens and raising global awareness about Russia's human rights abuses, including deportations and forced transfers of children.

While the conference saw participation from a diverse group of nations, notable absences included major countries such as China, India, and Brazil. Reports indicated that Russia exerted pressure on various countries to discourage their participation. Minister Joly stated, "Russia made many representations in many capitals of the world saying that they should not come to Montreal. It shows that what we're doing is shedding light on an issue that embarrasses Russia."

The issue of deported Ukrainian children has garnered significant international attention. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of the war crimes of unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. Moscow has rejected these allegations.

The forced deportation of Ukrainian children and civilians has profound societal implications. It disrupts families, erodes cultural identity, and has long-term psychological impacts on the affected individuals. The international community's commitment, as demonstrated in the Montreal Pledge, underscores the global consensus on the urgency of addressing these humanitarian violations and the importance of upholding human rights and international law.

The Montreal conference and the resulting pledge represent a significant step in addressing the humanitarian crisis resulting from the deportation of Ukrainian citizens during the conflict. The coordinated international effort aims to ensure the safe return and reintegration of deported individuals, highlighting the importance of global collaboration in upholding human rights and international law.