European Commission to help Ukraine start foster care system reform - Zelensky

MOSCOW. Feb 2 (Interfax) - The European Commission will provide assistance to Ukraine in launching a reform of the children's foster care and protection system, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said.

"Ms. Ursula von der Leyen and I have agreed that the European Commission will help us start reforming our children's foster care and protection system," Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying at a press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kiev on Thursday.

The reform would be aimed at replacing orphanages existing in the country by a system of family-type homes, he said.

Ukraine expects to establish a special office to develop this reform important for Ukrainian orphans, he said.

"This is not only an institutional change. What is important to Ukraine is a civilizational change, implying a proper attitude toward families and society as a whole," he said.