Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the debate on Deportations and forcible transfers of Ukrainian children and other civilians to Russian Federation or to Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied: create conditions for their safe return, stop these crimes and punish the perpetrators, which took place at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 27 April 2023.

The UK condemns Russia's forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-controlled territories of Ukraine. Those responsible for atrocities must be held to account and the UK is supporting the investigations of both the Ukrainian authorities and the International Criminal Court (ICC). The arrest warrants issued by the ICC are an important step towards accountability.

We respect the jurisdiction of competent national or international courts, such as the ICC, to determine if the crime of genocide has occurred in Ukraine. We will continue to call on Russia to cease forced transfers, allow unhindered, immediate and safe access for humanitarian organisations, and facilitate the safe return of children to Ukraine, in line with Russia's obligations under international law. The UK has contributed 150,000 euros to the Council of Europe's new Ukraine Action Plan.