Selenskyj demands Austria's help: Children are not exchange goods!

Selenskyj demands Austria's help: Children are not exchange goods!

Wien, Österreich - On June 16, 2025, Ukrainian head of state Wolodymyr Selenskyj Vienna visited and met with Federal President Alexander van der Bellen. This was her fourth contact since the beginning of the war in 2022. At this meeting, Selenskyj expressed his condolences for the victims of the recent killing spree in Graz and asked to work with Austria to return to Russia. "Children are not a exchange goods," he emphasized and called for increased cooperation to support Ukrainian citizens who are hiding in Austria.

Federal President van der Bellen confirmed the support of Austria 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 in order to design this support. The International Criminal Court has already initiated investigations against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the child rights politician Maria Lwowa-Belowa.

children in Ukraine: a tragic location

The visit of Selenskyj took place contextually in an alarming situation: since Russia's aggressive war on February 24, 2022, estimated 20,000 children have been uprooted in Ukraine and separated from their families. This was recently discussed by the Austrian parties ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS and GREEN, which in a cross -party application demanded that the Austrian federal government have to actively work for the protection and return of these children.

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

The situation of children in Ukraine is worrying. Many young people suffer from extreme conditions, including poverty, insufficient health care and abuse. The current crisis has further tightened the already precarious living conditions of the children. According to humanium, around 35% of the population live in poverty, and health care is often inadequate, which leads to a high mortality rate.

systematic child robbery and human rights violations

In addition to poverty, the challenges for children in Ukraine are diverse: While access to education in rural regions remains difficult, the discrimination against children with disabilities is becoming increasingly problematic. The increase in child labor is also alarming, with estimates that almost 8% of children have to work in dangerous conditions. The humanitarian crisis and the systematic kidnapping of Ukrainian children through Russia illustrate the urgent need for international aid.

summarized, the current situation shows the urgency of the urgency of humanitarian aid and international cooperation in order to alleviate the suffering of children in Ukraine and enable them.

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