The first face-to-face negotiations between the Russian Federation and Ukraine on the return of children took place in Qatar.
Commissioner for Children's Rights in the Russian Federation Maria Lvova-Belova
The Russian Federation and Ukraine for the first time held face-to-face negotiations between their representatives on the issue of the return of children located in the territories of both countries. This was reported by the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova.
Representatives of the two states met in the capital of Qatar, Doha. The Qatari authorities performed mediation functions - the country is in good relations with both Russia and Ukraine.
As a result of the negotiations, certain agreements were reached. So, it was decided that 29 children will go to Ukraine, and 19 children will go to Russia. The purpose of these negotiations is to help families reunite.
Let us note that in March 2024, the procedure for exchanging children already took place. At the Qatari Embassy in Moscow, an exchange was carried out with the participation of the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, and a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Five children went to their families in Ukraine, and one child went to his grandmother in Russia.
Thus, this is not the first time that Qatar has acted as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine in this matter. In March, Qatar's Ambassador to the Russian Federation Ahmed bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani expressed gratitude to the Russian leadership for its active participation in the issue of child exchange and family reunification.
The fact of face-to-face negotiations indicates that some lines of contact between the Russian and Ukrainian sides, in addition to the exchange of prisoners of war, still remain, albeit through the mediation of third countries.
Information