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On 28–29 September, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristupas Vaitiekūnas participated in the second international conference, Pathways to Peace, in Toronto. The conference aimed to mobilise international efforts to secure the return of unlawfully deported Ukrainian children, detained civilians and prisoners of war, as well as to support their rehabilitation and reintegration and ensure accountability for Russia’s violations of international law. Hosted by Canada, Ukraine and Norway, the event brought together delegations from more than 70 countries and international organisations. The first conference of this format was held in Montreal in October 2024.

“Two years ago in Montreal, we committed ourselves to bringing every Ukrainian child home. Of the more than 20,000 deported children, only one in eight has returned. Greater pressure on Russia and closer cooperation among like-minded countries are therefore essential,” said Vice Minister K. Vaitiekūnas.

The Vice-Minister presented progress in the implementation of Lithuania’s “Children First: Protecting Ukraine's Future” programme, which has been allocated more than EUR 10 million. Alongside infrastructure recovery and capacity-building initiatives, the programme finances seven Ukrainian civil society projects focused on locating and returning unlawfully deported children, documenting crimes and ensuring accountability. He stressed that the return of children must not come at the cost of impunity. Lithuania therefore continues to support and actively contribute to strengthening sanctions against Russia, the work of the International Criminal Court, and the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression.

Discussions focused on the need to translate political commitments into concrete action by increasing pressure on Russia, ensuring international organisations have access to detainees, and mobilising additional resources for Ukraine. Participants also emphasised that return, recovery and justice are inseparable, and that those who return must be provided with long-term rehabilitation, psychological support and social assistance.

During the conference, the Vice Minister met with Ukraine’s Minister of Social Policy and the leadership of the Coordination Centre for the Development of Family-Based Care and Child Care. They discussed the implementation of the “Children First” and “Create for Ukraine” programmes, Ukraine’s social protection needs, and opportunities to expand Lithuanian support and joint projects.

In bilateral meetings with representatives of Canada, Andorra and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the leadership of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), the Vice-Minister discussed further cooperation on the return and rehabilitation of children, as well as efforts to locate and identify missing persons. The parties agreed on concrete follow-up steps to transform the cooperation opportunities discussed into practical initiatives.