Zelenskyy holds talks with UN chief on Ukrainian children and Zaporizhzhia NPP blackout
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. They discussed the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia and the blackout at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, according to the president’s Telegram channel.
"(We) discussed the International Coalition Summit for the Return of Ukrainian Children and the resolution Ukraine is preparing for the UN General Assembly. We expect the world to support the need to return all Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The draft resolution will be presented this year. We are working with countries to ensure backing," Zelenskyy said.
According to him, the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is under Russian occupation, was also discussed.
"Currently, the station is experiencing its longest blackout yet — the seventh day without power, with the electrical networks damaged due to attacks. It is important for the world to understand the potential consequences. We are counting on an appropriate international response," the president noted.
Zelenskyy and Guterres also talked about the situation in Gaza and US President Donald Trump’s initiative to establish peace.
"This is a strong initiative, and we are ready to contribute to ensure the peace proposals succeed," the head of state emphasized.
Deportation of Ukrainian Children
According to the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada, Dmytro Lubinets, since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia has deported over 19,500 children from Ukraine.
At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine has managed to bring back 1,625 children from Russia, thanks to the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
The deportation of Ukrainian children was the reason the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova.
Recently, the number of countries willing to assist in returning Ukrainian children deported by Russia has increased. This also concerns children who remain in occupied territories.
Additionally, Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska recently met with US First Lady Melania Trump, with the main topic of discussion being the protection of Ukrainian children.
In April, the Verkhovna Rada (the parliament) adopted a draft law in principle establishing liability for the illegal transfer and use of children for military purposes by representatives of foreign states.
Furthermore, a bipartisan group of US senators is calling for Russia to be recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism due to the mass deportation of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied territories.
