On the day Donald Trump officially becomes U.S. President, Ukraine is eager to start discussions with his administration about peace. Andriy Yermak, who heads the President’s Office in Ukraine, expressed optimism about Trump’s role in ending the ongoing conflict, which will reach its three-year mark next month.
“We have a positive outlook on the United States and President Trump for bringing this war to a close,” Yermak said during a virtual conference from Kyiv. He mentioned that Ukraine would also engage with influential nations, like India and South Africa, to assist in this effort.
During his campaign, Trump had promised to resolve the conflict swiftly. Recently, Russia’s foreign minister noted that he welcomed positive signals from the incoming U.S. President regarding Ukraine.
A few weeks before Trump’s inauguration, Yermak met with Marco Rubio, Trump’s Secretary of State nominee, emphasizing that they would act quickly to pursue peace.
On India’s potential involvement, Yermak remarked, “India is a major democracy and can play a crucial role. We’ve had numerous discussions on peace initiatives, particularly those suggested in Switzerland.” He looks forward to continuing dialogue with India’s national security advisor, Ajit Doval, stressing the importance of India’s position in ending the conflict.
Yermak also highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis facing children in war zones, focusing particularly on the plight of Ukrainian children. Notably, Baroness Helena Kennedy, an international human rights lawyer, shed light on the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russian forces, estimating between 10,000 and 19,000 have been taken under false pretenses of safety. This situation poses serious psychological risks to the children, who may lose their identity and memories.
Ukraine has sought India’s assistance in bringing these children home. Yermak recalled that Prime Minister Modi successfully helped evacuate Indian students from Ukraine when the war began. He mentioned that during a recent visit to Kyiv, President Zelenskyy discussed this sensitive issue with PM Modi and emphasized India’s influential role in facilitating the return of Ukrainian children.
Yermak shared a poignant memory from Modi’s visit to Ukraine, where he paid tribute to children lost in the conflict. Modi respectfully honored their memories by placing a toy at a memorial, a powerful gesture alongside President Zelenskyy, who placed a teddy bear in remembrance.
Additionally, a report from Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab revealed that 314 Ukrainian children have been coerced into forced adoption by Russia since the war began. This includes children documented in Russian adoption databases as well as those placed directly with Russian citizens. The Ukrainian government has called for a transparent register detailing all Ukrainian children in Russian custody.
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