Qatar Mediates Return of Six Ukrainian Children from Russia

The children, who were staying with relatives in Russia or Russian-occupied territory, are en route to Ukraine in the second phase of a Qatar-mediated return.

• Six Ukrainian children are being returned to Ukraine from Russia, in a deal brokered by Qatar. This is the second phase of a Qatar-mediated return of children, following the return of four minors in October.
• The children had been staying with relatives in Russia or Russian-occupied territory. They are en route to Ukraine via Moscow.
• Negotiations on the returns had been underway since at least April 2023. Qatar agreed to a Ukrainian request to mediate with Russia on the return of children to their immediate families during a visit to Ukraine in July 2023 by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
• The cases of these children appear to be different from those of Ukrainian children who Ukraine says were forcibly taken to Russia from territories occupied by Moscow, which are the subject of an International Criminal Court case.
• Kyiv says about 20,000 children have been taken from Ukraine to Russia or Russian-held territory without the consent of family or guardians. It calls this a war crime that meets the U.N. treaty definition of genocide. Moscow denies the accusation.

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