“The world lacks compassion – action is needed”: Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Asman at the Justice Conference dedicated to the return of Ukrainian children taken out of the country by the occupier Russia

February 23, 2026 in Kyiv hosted the international Justice Conference — a conference on justice during war. The agenda discussed Russia’s responsibility for war crimes, legal mechanisms of international pressure, compensations, as well as one of the most difficult humanitarian issues of the war — the return of Ukrainian children taken out of the country.

The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine announced his participation in this diplomatic event Moshe Asman.

What the meeting was about and why it became the central theme

Kyiv tried to bring diplomats, human rights activists, and government representatives together in one room so that the issue of children would not remain a ‘moral shock’ but turn into a set of solutions: who pressures, who records responsibility, who helps return and rehabilitate.

Judging by the agenda of the Justice Conference, the discussion was not only about the humanitarian side but also about legal instruments: special tribunal, international legal procedures, compensation mechanisms, and a separate block — the path of returning children and restoring their identity after forced removal.

In the middle of this conversation, it is important to fix the meaning that is increasingly heard in international discussions and in the Ukrainian position: the return of children is not a ‘gesture of goodwill’ and not a private story of individual families. It is a matter of international law, security, and responsibility.

That is why NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency considers the topic of kidnapped children not as a separate humanitarian news, but as an indicator of whether the world is capable of turning sympathy into real political and legal work.

Who was among the participants

The meeting was organized by the Office of the President of Ukraine and gathered a high level of Ukrainian officials and international guests. Among those present:

• First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska

• Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha

• Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov

• First Deputy Head of the OP Serhiy Kyslytsia

• Deputy Head of the OP Iryna Mudra

• Founder of Save Ukraine Mykola Kuleba

• Pastor Mark Burns

• Diplomats from allied and partner countries of Ukraine, opinion leaders, heads of international human rights organizations, and cultural figures

The set of figures shows that the issue of children was discussed at the intersection of diplomacy, justice, and international advocacy — not in a narrow humanitarian circle.

Asman’s main message: the world must act

Moshe Asman formulated his attitude towards what was happening as a direct moral conclusion from the meeting. He emphasized: the world expects not emotions, but actions.

‘The world must not only sympathize with us but also act! Because this is a matter of global justice and security in the new world we all live in now.’

In this formula is what is usually heard ‘between the lines’ at such forums: without specific political decisions, international procedures, and pressure, the return of children risks remaining an eternal diplomatic topic without results.

Mark Burns: emotional support for Ukraine as a signal to partners

Another emphasis was Asman’s reaction to the speech of Pastor Mark Burns, spiritual advisor to US President Donald Trump, (an American pastor-evangelist known for his active support of Trump).

Asman separately thanked him for his support of Ukraine and noted that he spoke at the Kyiv event in the presence of top officials and diplomats from partner countries.

‘Thank you Pastor Mark Burns for your warm words and support for Ukraine!’

For the diplomatic agenda, this is not a trifle: when the topic of kidnapped children is publicly raised by international religious leaders and public figures, it expands the audience in the West and makes it harder to ‘lower’ the conversation to general formulations.

Why Asman specifically noted Iryna Mudra

At the end of his message, Asman expressed gratitude to the Deputy Head of the OP Iryna Mudra for the high level of organization. For such international meetings, this is an important marker: the result depends not only on beautiful statements but on how professionally legal and diplomatic details are structured.

‘Special thanks to Iryna Mudra for the high and professional level of the event.’

The Justice Conference in Kyiv became another point where Ukraine tries to establish a simple thing: the issue of deported children is not an ‘additional topic’, but one of the main tests of the world’s ability to protect rights, identity, and security.