On 31 January and 1 February 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krišjānis Kariņš, will meet with the spouse of the Ukrainian President, Olena Zelenska, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for Europe and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olha Stefanishyna, as well as participating in the launch of the conference, Russia’s War on Children.
In a meeting with Olena Zelenska, who is also the patron of the conference, Krišjānis Kariņš will outline Latvia’s support for Ukrainian society and children. In a meeting with Olha Stefanisyina, the officials are to discuss the current developments concerning Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and closer cooperation with NATO. Krišjānis Kariņš intends to pledge Latvia’s continued support for the membership of Ukraine in both the organisations.
The two-day conference in Riga will bring together prominent international experts, journalists, foreign officials and representatives of non-governmental organisations. The conference on Russia’s War against Children will serve as a platform for children from Ukraine to give their testimony of what they had experienced.
Being one of the organizers of the conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will support Ukraine’s efforts to shed light on Russia’s violations against more than 20,000 children who have been illegally deported or forcibly displaced from the temporary occupied territories of Ukraine. The conference will stimulate discussions in order to seek solutions to bringing children back home and reuniting families. At the same time, it is important to decide which of the available instruments should be used to call the perpetrators to justice and hold them political accountable.
Latvia has joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children unlawfully deported and forcibly displaced, established by Ukraine.
More about the conference: www.russiaswaronchildren.org