Minister Eide’s remarks at the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s Peace Formula

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Honored guests,

Dear Mélanie, dear Andrii, ladies and gentlemen,

I am truly proud and honored to serve as a co-chair at today’s gathering here in Montreal, as well as co-chairing Working Group Four of the Ukraine Peace Formula. The focus of our work is deeply meaningful and undeniably crucial.

As Mélanie reminded us, this is really about people. Our working group addresses some of the most painful consequences of conflict: the fate of lost children, civilians held in detention or disappeared, and prisoners of war. It’s critical that we bring these issues to the forefront and make it our collective mission to arrive at concrete and practical outcomes. A pledge, as Mélanie said—along with clear instruments and defined roles—is essential to ensure we make real progress.

So, thank you, Canada, for hosting this conference.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Ukraine, traveling to Odessa, Kyiv, and other parts of the country. It was an impactful journey, where I met people who are affected daily by the war. One of those individuals was a young woman named Anastasia, from Mariupol. Anastasia endured prolonged detention under unbearable conditions, suffering from a lack of food and water, and enduring sexual harassment.

Upon her release from the occupied territories, Anastasia learned that her father was alive but detained. She still does not know where her husband is—or if he is even alive. Anastasia’s story is the reason we are here today. This conference isn’t about numbers. It’s about people with real lives, histories, families, friends, broken dreams, and hopes. Tragically, Anastasia’s story is not unique.

This brings me to why it is essential to discuss the treatment of prisoners of war. What kind of war is this? Clearly, it is a war of aggression, where Ukraine is the victim of Russia’s unlawful invasion. Russia has violated the core principle of international law: respect for sovereign borders. But this war is also what we can call a classic war —it’s a conflict between two states, each with a command structure, civilian control over military forces, and both parties have ratified international agreements, such as the Geneva Conventions.

Our Ukrainian friends have shown their commitment to these principles. From what I’ve seen, they work hard to uphold them. For instance, when Ukrainian forces recently took prisoners of war in Kursk, they registered, treated them appropriately, and allowed the ICRC to visit them—exactly as international law prescribes. However, Russia does not abide by these rules. Instead, they claim their obligations don’t apply because this isn’t a war; it’s a “special military operation,” and they’re fighting “terrorists.”

To be blunt, this is nonsense. This is a war in which international rules apply. We must all remind Russia that they, too, have obligations under the Geneva Conventions and other international instruments. We also need to strengthen mechanisms to collect and match data, accurately identifying individuals and developing protections for those affected. I know that some of the countries represented here are willing to act as trusted intermediaries, partners who can facilitate the safe return of children and support people coming back from Russian-controlled areas.

In addressing this conflict, we must have a clear understanding of the war’s nature, the violations occurring, and the standards that must be upheld. We call on all nations, including those who have condemned this war, to affirm that rules must be applied even in conflict. When they are disregarded, the result is barbarism. This is a moment to demonstrate the relevance and resilience of rules developed in the aftermath of the Second World War.

We must demand adherence to these standards.

I look forward to the discussions ahead. Few issues are as vital in supporting our Ukrainian friends as the human dimension: prisoners of war, stolen children, people lost and in need of identification and repatriation. Ultimately, it is all about people. People like Anastasia.

Thank you.