Dutch, German FMs hold Russia accountable for Ukrainian deported children

At a meeting in The Hague between the Dutch and German Foreign Ministers on January 16, Wopke Hoekstra and Annalena Baerbock reiterated that their countries will continue to support Ukraine with humanitarian and financial resources, weapons, and by helping with reconstruction and justice.

As stated on the Dutch minister's official Twitter account, they also drew attention to the many thousands of Ukrainian children who were deported by the Russians from occupied territories but Russia. "Russia must account for the whereabouts of these children", Baerbock said. "These children have been kidnapped and must return to Ukraine".

The subject of setting up a war tribunal was also touched upon during the talks, with Germany's Baerbock saying, that "We spoke with Ukraine and our partners about jointly setting up a special tribunal for the crimes of aggression against Ukraine". The Netherlands and the European Union previously expressed their support for such a tribunal, according to the Dutch Trouw agency.

 We hebben benadrukt dat onze landen #Oekraïne zullen blijven steunen met humanitaire en financiële middelen, wapens, en door te helpen met wederopbouw en gerechtigheid. Ook spraken we over 🇩🇪-🇳🇱 samenwerking om kinderontvoeringen vanuit Oekraïne naar Rusland te voorkomen. 2/3 pic.twitter.com/32ml1XxoSq

— Wopke Hoekstra (@WBHoekstra) January 16, 2023