Thank you, Canada. We need your continued assistance to shape peace in Ukraine.
In 1945, when Allied forces liberated Europe from Nazi Germany, the world collectively vowed “never again.” Yet, history is repeating itself in a horrifying way on European soil.
The systematic violation of human rights in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories is not a series of isolated incidents, but a calculated strategy to erase identity and destroy a nation’s spirit.
That’s why the two-day Montreal summit under Canadian leadership on the human dimension of the war that ended with a joint statement about ways to ensure the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia is such an important event. We are grateful to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and all Canadians for their leadership in this area.
A moral test is underway
Many Holocaust survivors said the most terrifying thing was not the obvious violence but the silence of the unaffected. The world is going through the same moral test again. The international community’s response will determine humanity’s future.
Imagine international law as the immune system of the global community. A failure in one place weakens it everywhere. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not just an interstate conflict. It is a deadly virus attacking the foundations of the post-Second World War international order.
Some argue peace requires compromise. However, history teaches us that appeasing an aggressor, as happened with the 1938 Munich Agreement, merely postpones and does not prevent a major war.
When a house is on fire, committees are not formed to discuss the philosophical nature of flames. Instead, people act. Ukraine is a house set ablaze.
Meanwhile, the arsonist is abducting the victim’s children, pretending to rescue them. The systematic deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia echoes the darkest pages of history.
It is happening today in an era of smartphones and social media when indifference cannot be justified by ignorance. The essence of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s policy toward Ukraine is too obvious to doubt its genocidal nature.
Torture chambers and mass graves discovered in liberated Ukrainian territories are not just the aftermath of war crimes, but evidence that these crimes have become the norm. Each victim had a name, a family and a story brutally interrupted.
Their suffering cannot be measured in statistics alone. It is a moral debt the international community must acknowledge. This means punishing the tormentors and preventing future tragedies.
A flexible peace plan
Among other aspects, this is envisaged in the 10-point peace formula proposed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It is a flexible, multi-level platform aimed at restoring international order by compelling Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
International conferences based on each point of the formula have become an effective working format. The final conference, dedicated to implementing the humanitarian dimension, ended Thursday in Montreal.
Participants represented almost 70 states, demonstrating how the world can unite around actions to protect human dignity.
Canada has been historically a haven for those fleeing persecution – from Vietnamese “boat people” to Syrian refugees – and is once again demonstrating its leadership.
This time, that’s in developing mechanisms for returning forcibly deported Ukrainian children and creating a support system for victims of war crimes.
The peace formula’s humanitarian component turned out to be one of the most challenging but not due to a lack of understanding of the issue, which is crystal clear. The difficulty lies in creating effective mechanisms to pressure the aggressor, who deliberately weaponizes the humanitarian crisis.
Significant progress has been achieved through the efforts of many countries.
With support from Canada and other partners, an international registry of deported children has been established. A rapid response system for abduction cases is operational.
International experts are working to develop mechanisms for documenting war crimes according to the highest judicial standards. Specialists from various countries are sharing their experience in assisting victims of war crimes and helping to create psychological rehabilitation programs.
The peace conference approach presents an opportunity to transform these developments into concrete international commitments. The peace formula is not merely a diplomatic document, it is a roadmap for restoring justice, where each point has clear implementation criteria.
In the humanitarian sphere, these criteria are unambiguous: release all hostages; return abducted children; treat prisoners of war properly; and hold accountable those responsible for war crimes. These “red lines” are not subject to compromise or revision.
The success of this initiative is important not only for Ukraine. It will also determine the 21st-century effectiveness of international law – i.e., whether the global community can create mechanisms to prevent humanitarian catastrophes, rather than simply reacting, belatedly and indecisively.
Civilization is marked by progress in co-operation. Today as the Russia-inflicted humanitarian crisis in Ukraine tests the strength of democratic values, this co-operation is essential.
Either we overcome barbarism together or it will lead humanity to a new disaster. There are no other options: Putin has deprived the free world of the freedom of choice.
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