Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a meeting with the American businessman and philanthropist, Chair of the Open Society Foundations Alexander Soros.
Andriy Yermak thanked Alexander Soros for participating in the inaugural meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which took place on Friday in Kyiv.
"Your participation is very important. I hope the coalition will show results of their successful work," the head of the President's Office said.
The head of the Office of the President expressed gratitude for adopting the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Olena Zelenska Foundation and the International Renaissance Foundation. The document was signed under the initiative of the Open Society Foundations. According to the Memorandum, $1 million will be directed to support children in Ukraine, including children raised in large foster families in the frontline, de-occupied, and affected regions of our country.
Andriy Yermak also expressed gratitude to Alexander Soros for signing a document establishing a Coalition Memorandum of Cooperation between Advisor, Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights and Child Rehabilitation Daria Herasymchuk and the Open Society Foundations on the sidelines of the meeting. The document will contribute to the most effective protection of the rights of children affected by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation and will assist in the implementation of the President of Ukraine's Bring Kids Back UA Plan, including measures to return young citizens illegally deported by Russia.
The head of the Office of the President emphasized the importance of global publicity for cases of deportation of Ukrainian minors by Russia. In his opinion, publishing a book with stories about such children and involving globally recognized personalities in the process of their return to Ukraine can contribute to this cause.
The Ukrainian side also aims to involve representatives of religious organizations in addressing humanitarian issues, particularly in assisting the return of deported Ukrainians.
In addition, Andriy Yermak informed Alexander Soros about projects supporting veterans and their rehabilitation. He highly appreciated the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the International Renaissance Foundation and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, which entails collaborative work in the field of psychological rehabilitation and psychological support for the families of servicemen, families of those who died as a result of the war, prisoners of war, and internally displaced persons. Within the framework of the Memorandum, pilot projects will be implemented in two institutions in Odesa.
"Your family does a lot for Ukraine: important projects to protect our people, strengthen democracy, for the success of the Ukrainian state," the head of the President's Office said.
The interlocutors also discussed the possibilities for developing the Ukrainian economy, including issues related to Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction.