Slovakia Rejects Global Pledge on Returning Ukrainian Children

The Toronto Pledge is a multilateral declaration focused on returning Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia. It was adopted on Sept. 29 during the Pathways to Peace conference in Toronto. Its purpose is to create shared international support for bringing the children back and addressing the harm caused by their removal.

Slovakia’s decision was highly unusual because the European Union endorsed the Toronto Pledge, along with 26 of its 27 member states. Only Slovakia refused to sign. The pledge therefore had nearly universal support among EU governments, making the absence of one country especially striking.

The Toronto Pledge commits countries to the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred to Russia. Its central idea is that governments should cooperate rather than treat these removals as a bilateral issue. The pledge connects humanitarian action with international accountability for the children’s displacement.

A refusal can carry diplomatic consequences because shared humanitarian commitments depend on visible solidarity. When one country stands apart, partners may question its willingness to support common principles. The issue can also become politically damaging at home, especially when opposition lawmakers frame the decision as collaboration with an adversary.

Robert Fico’s government has recalibrated Slovakia’s foreign policy toward Moscow since returning to office in late 2023. That pattern helps explain why Bratislava rejected a pledge centered on Russian transfers of Ukrainian children. The refusal matched a broader reluctance to support policies that directly pressure Russia.

Ukrainian officials have documented the transfer of nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children to Russia and Belarus. This figure shows the issue is not limited to isolated cases. It describes a large-scale displacement that has prompted international pledges, legal action, and sanctions efforts.

In established international law, unlawful deportation generally means forcibly moving protected civilians across an international border. Forcible transfer usually means forcing them to move within the territory where they live, without a lawful reason. Illegal adoption is not simply relocation; it involves placing a child with new guardians without valid consent or legal safeguards, often after separating the child from family.