Zelenskyj calls for Austria's help: Children are not barter goods!

Zelenskyj calls for Austria's help: Children are not barter goods!

On June 16, 2025, Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky visited Vienna and met with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. This was their fourth contact since the war began in 2022. At this meeting, Zelensky expressed his condolences for the victims of the recent shooting spree in Graz and asked Austria to work towards the return of children abducted to Russia. “Children are not barter goods,” he emphasized and called for increased cooperation to support Ukrainian citizens hiding in Austria.

Federal President Van der Bellen reiterated Austria's support for Ukraine and its right to self-determination. Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger assured that Austria would be involved in humanitarian aid, psychosocial care, educational projects and reconstruction. In addition, bilateral declarations of intent were signed to make this support concrete. The International Criminal Court has already initiated investigations against Russian President Vladimir Putin and children's rights politician Maria Lwowa-Belowa, which have been issued with arrest warrants.

Children in Ukraine: A tragic situation

Zelensky's visit took place in an alarming situation: since Russia's war of aggression on February 24, 2022, an estimated 20,000 children in Ukraine have been uprooted and separated from their families. This was also recently discussed by the Austrian parties ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS and the Greens, who demanded in a cross-party motion that the Austrian federal government must actively work to protect and repatriate these children.

The abduction of Ukrainian children is seen as a breach of international law and a massive attack on human rights. In this context, Gudrun Kugler from the ÖVP explained the need to defend the rights of children, while Pia Maria Wieninger from the SPÖ pointed out the importance of accountability for those responsible.

The situation of children in Ukraine is worrying. Many youth suffer from extreme conditions, including poverty, inadequate health care and abuse. The current crisis has further exacerbated the already precarious living conditions of children. According to Humanium, about 35% of the population lives in poverty and health care is often inadequate, leading to high mortality rates.

Systematic child abduction and human rights violations

In addition to poverty, the challenges facing children in Ukraine are diverse: While access to education in rural areas remains difficult, discrimination against children with disabilities is also becoming increasingly problematic. The rise in child labor is also alarming, with estimates that nearly 8% of children are forced to work in dangerous conditions. The humanitarian crisis and the systematic abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia highlight the urgent need for international help.

Given these difficult circumstances, Zelensky's visit to Austria was an important step in raising international awareness of the situation of Ukrainian children. Now more than ever, the Austrian government and society are called upon to take responsibility and protect the rights and well-being of these children.

In summary, the current situation shows the urgency of humanitarian aid and international cooperation to alleviate the suffering of children in Ukraine and enable their repatriation.

For more information, please visit the articles from crown, OTS and Humanium.