Ukraine Demands Return of Kidnapped Children at Istanbul Peace Talks

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Ukraine Demands Return of Kidnapped Children at Istanbul Peace Talks

 

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia resumed briefly in Istanbul, with both sides exchanging proposals for a possible ceasefire and humanitarian measures. During the one-hour meeting, Ukrainian negotiators handed their Russian counterparts a list of 339 children allegedly abducted and forcibly taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territories—a gesture that underscored the deep emotional and legal tensions that persist amid the ongoing war.

 

 

The meeting took place at Istanbul’s historic Ciragan Palace, now a luxury hotel, and ended after just over an hour. The two sides presented memorandums outlining their respective visions for ending the conflict. Ukraine’s memorandum, which was made public prior to the session, called for a full ceasefire and concrete guarantees of the country’s security and territorial integrity. Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s defence minister, led Kyiv’s delegation and was joined by other senior officials including Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff.

 

Yermak confirmed that the list of missing Ukrainian children had been formally submitted to Russia’s delegation. “Their return is non-negotiable,” he said, stressing that children, under international law, cannot be part of prisoner exchange agreements governed by the Geneva Conventions. “They must be returned,” he added, reinforcing Ukraine’s position that these removals constitute a violation of international norms.

 

Vladimir Medinsky, Russia’s chief negotiator, dismissed the handover of the children’s list as political theatre. He accused Kyiv of “putting on a show” for Western audiences, but nevertheless stated that Russia would cooperate to help reunite the children with their families in Ukraine—“if they can be found.” Russia had not released its proposals ahead of the meeting, but its state media later reported that Moscow’s demands included a full Ukrainian withdrawal from Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Donbas—regions Russia claims but does not fully control—as well as limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces.

 

While the two sides remain far apart on political and territorial issues, they did reach limited agreements on humanitarian matters. They pledged to exchange all seriously wounded and sick prisoners, as well as prisoners of war under the age of 25. Additionally, both sides agreed to repatriate the remains of approximately 6,000 fallen soldiers. Medinsky announced that Russia had also offered a temporary ceasefire—lasting two to three days—along certain sections of the front line to allow commanders to collect the dead. It remains unclear whether Ukraine has accepted this offer.

 

Despite the brevity of the talks, one Ukrainian official noted a shift in tone compared to earlier meetings. “The tone was better in this meeting than the last one,” the official said. “Steps taken on humanitarian matters make [the Russians] realise progress can be made.”

 

The latest talks followed a major Ukrainian military strike conducted just hours earlier. In one of the most daring operations of the war, Ukraine reportedly targeted and struck over 40 Russian warplanes stationed thousands of miles from Ukrainian territory—a strike that had been planned for more than 18 months.

 

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered to convene a future summit involving Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and former U.S. President Donald Trump. When asked about this proposal, the White House press secretary confirmed that Trump is open to participating “if it comes to that,” but insisted that he wants “both of these leaders and both sides to come to the table together.”

 

While the road to peace remains uncertain, the humanitarian commitments—particularly concerning children and prisoners—are seen as fragile yet essential building blocks in a conflict that has otherwise shown little sign of de-escalation.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-06-04

 

 

[Tug]

What a hideous crime putin perpetrated on his neighbor I hope he rots in hell!!salva Ukraine!!

[renaissanc]

Putin wants Ukraine. Full stop. He won't stop the war.

[ericbj]

People can be forgiven for taking Ukrainian propaganda at face value.
Because western MSM and diverse official and semi-official sources have succeeded in hugely limiting access to evidence that once exposed the falsity of the claims (which are by no means new).
( https://news-pravda.com/world/2024/07/02/607769.html ) 
The claims of 'Ukrainian' children from the Donetsk and Lugansk regions being 'kidnapped' and 'indoctrinated' was exposed long ago in interviews of many of the children and their teachers.  The interviews were on YouTube but can no longer be found there.
The children leave the battle-zones voluntarily with the consent of their parents if still alive, and are lodged and educated in areas at a safe distance from the shelling and missile attacks that have targetted civilians.
Many adults have also moved eastwards, away from endangered areas, although it is probable that some are now beginning to return, in an effort to rebuild their shattered lives.

 

This may well be 'black' propaganda also (I make no claim to the contrary):
https://realrawnews.com/2025/04/russian-spetznas-free-american-kidnapped-children-found-in-ukraine-warehouse/ 

[NoDisplayName]

25 minutes ago, ericbj said:

People can be forgiven for taking Ukrainian propaganda at face value.

 

Yeah, right.

 

Next you'll tell me his viagra-infused rape troops didn't dump premedicated infants out of incubasters into aluminium tubes intended for use in barrel bombs at 45-minutes notice with the only warning being the mushroom spore clouds from mobile germ laboratories!

[DonniePeverley]

Full demand that Ukraine asks that Russians leave Thailand so we can get Phuket back. 

[ericbj]

1 hour ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Yeah, right.

 

Next you'll tell me his viagra-infused rape troops didn't dump premedicated infants out of incubasters into aluminium tubes intended for use in barrel bombs at 45-minutes notice with the only warning being the mushroom spore clouds from mobile germ laboratories!

See a head-shrinker.