Mariana Betsa is paying a visit to the Council of Europe Headquarters
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
10 July 2025 10:24
On 9 July, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa began her visit to Strasbourg, French Republic, to participate in the high-level conference "The Situation of Ukraine's Children: Council of Europe Action", organized by the Council of Europe's Consultation Group on Ukraine's Children (CGU) in cooperation with the Maltese Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.
In her address at the event, Mariana Betsa underscored:
"This war is waged not only against the Ukrainian state but also against the Ukrainian people including our children. Every child abducted or forcibly deported by Russia represents a stolen future. Each one of them must be brought home."
Diplomat expressed Ukraine's gratitude to the Council of Europe for its active engagement in defending the rights, safety, and return of Ukrainian children, including its accession to the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. At the same time, she called for a transition from political declarations to tangible measures: "We need effective mechanisms — practical and legal — that deliver results. Mechanisms that bring our children home."
The event was attended by Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset, Minister of Malta for Social Policy and Children's Rights Michael Falzon, Special Envoy of Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine Tordis Gylfadottir, as well as representatives of Ukrainian state institutions, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, civil society, international organizations, and the expert community.
Later the same day, Mariana Betsa addressed the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe during a discussion on the consequences of the Russian Federation's armed aggression against Ukraine.
Deputy Minister stressed that Russia's war of aggression is an attempt to eradicate Ukraine's very identity and poses a grave threat to the fundamental values of Europe: sovereignty, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. She also reaffirmed that Russia's exclusion from the Council of Europe was the only correct decision.
"Ukraine remains fully committed to achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in accordance with the UN Charter. However, we will never accept any imposed settlements or territorial concessions. Our position is firm: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing about Europe without Europe," Mariana Betsa emphasized.
The Deputy Minister also highlighted the urgent need to intensify sanctions against the aggressor state, particularly in the energy sector, and to impose secondary sanctions on those financing the war by purchasing Russian oil.
Mariana Betsa expressed sincere gratitude to the Council of Europe for its support in establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, for joining the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, and for the expert assistance provided by the Venice Commission and the Council of Europe's monitoring bodies.
As part of her visit to the Council of Europe, Deputy Minister Mariana Betsa held meetings with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty, and Special Envoy of Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine Tordis Gylfadottir.
The discussions focused on strengthening the Council of Europe's support for holding the Russian Federation accountable for the crime of aggression, war crimes, and ensuring justice. Special attention was given to the return, reintegration, and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children deported by Russia, the protection of human rights in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories, and support for Ukraine's efforts to assist those affected by Russian aggression.
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