Ukraine demands return of deported children in Istanbul talks with Russia

Head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Andriy Yermak, announced that Kyiv has formally submitted a list of hundreds of Ukrainian children to the Russian delegation during negotiations in Istanbul, demanding their immediate return.

The list comprises children whom Ukraine says were illegally deported, forcibly relocated, or are being held in territories temporarily occupied by Russia amid the ongoing conflict, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

"Today during the negotiations in Istanbul, the Ukrainian side officially handed over to the Russian side a list of Ukrainian children to be returned," Yermak stated via his official Telegram channel. "We are talking about hundreds of children who were illegally deported, forcibly relocated, or kept in the temporarily occupied territories by Russia."

Yermak underscored that the issue of returning Ukrainian children remains a core element of Kyiv’s peace demands, framing it as a moral imperative and a litmus test for Russia’s sincerity in any prospective resolution.

"The return of Ukrainian children is an inseparable part of a just and lasting peace and a key element of trust—the first test of sincerity of intentions. We are waiting for the answer. The ball is in Russia’s court," he added.

Meanwhile, a source cited by the Russian state news agency TASS confirmed that detailed discussions took place between Moscow and Kyiv regarding prisoner and civilian exchanges, including the status of minors. Further official statements from both sides are expected to follow.

The forced displacement of Ukrainian children has drawn widespread international condemnation and has become a focal point in Ukraine’s appeals to global institutions, including the International Criminal Court, which issued arrest warrants in 2023 over similar allegations.

By Vafa Guliyeva