Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk met with a delegation from Austria’s National Council to discuss the importance of continued joint efforts to return Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, as well as Austria’s support in rebuilding the cardiology center at the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv.
Stefanchuk shared details of the meeting in a post on Facebook, according to Ukrinform.
The Austrian delegation was led by Petra Bayr, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Key topics on the meeting agenda included Austria’s support for Ukraine’s EU accession process, its willingness to provide expert assistance in the areas of competition and regional policy, and the strengthening of interparliamentary dialogue at all levels.
Stefanchuk expressed gratitude to the delegation for visiting Kyiv, noting that in times like these, “personal presence is a sign of true solidarity, respect, and determination.”
He also thanked the Austrian parliament for its recently adopted resolution supporting the return of Ukrainian children. “It was a powerful and important signal,” he said.
“We count on Austria’s further leadership in humanitarian initiatives and in the matter of returning the children,” Stefanchuk added.
In 2024, the Austrian National Council unanimously adopted a resolution titled “On Abducted Ukrainian Children,” calling on the federal government — particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — to work at the international and European levels to ensure the return of children taken by Russia to Ukraine.
Photo: screenshot from the video
