Qatar brokers another Russia-Ukraine deal to exchange 9 children

Qatar has successfully mediated a humanitarian deal between Ukraine and Russia which will see the return of nine children from both countries to their respective families.

In a statement, Qatar said that its role in brokering the deal between the two warring parties is “an extension of its approach to mediation and conflict resolution through peaceful means, in accordance with the principles of international law”.

This is the second time Qatar has helped the countries reach an exchange where children are allowed to be close to their families. Earlier this year, 22 children were returned to their families in Ukraine after Qatar’s intervention.

Who will be exchanged this time?

Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, announced on Thursday that seven children, ranging in age from six to 16, will be returned to Ukraine to live with close family members.

She added that these children have been living in Russia under varying circumstances with most living with their grandparents. However, a 16-year-old boy part of the exchange has been living in a Russian orphanage.

She stated that two boys, aged seven and nine, who had been living in Ukraine for several years with a parent, would also be sent back to Russia.

Has Russia abducted Ukrainian kids?

Kyiv says about 20,000 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians since the war began, calling the abductions a war crime that meets the UN treaty definition of genocide.

Moscow, on the other hand, has denied the claim and says it has protected vulnerable children from the war zone.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of President Vladimir Putin and Lvova-Belova on war crimes charges related to the abduction of Ukrainian children.

Russia denounced the warrants as “outrageous and unacceptable”. Lvova-Belova rejected the accusations as false.

With inputs from agencies