Türkiye and Saudi Arabia join initiative to bring back Ukrainian children from Russia – FT

Saudi Arabia and Türkiye are trying to conclude an agreement on the return of Ukrainian children forcibly taken by Russia; Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is participating in the negotiations.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the Financial Times

Details: Sources of the outlet say Ukrainian and Russian officials are compiling lists of thousands of children as part of a previously unknown mediation process.

It is noted that the "extremely sensitive" negotiations have been going on for several months, and oligarch Roman Abramovich, who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is participating in these.

The need for intermediaries emphasises the difficulty of bringing back the abducted Ukrainian children, the publication writes. This topic is so controversial Ukrainian and Russian officials refuse to speak directly.

Saudi Arabia raised the issue of kidnapped Ukrainian children at a meeting of officials of individual G20 members in Copenhagen.

According to the diplomat, Western countries supported Riyadh's desire to continue mediation on children and other issues.

Mediators hope that Ukraine and Russia will be able to agree on a list of children so that their families can bring them back.

Background:

In March, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, finding him guilty of the illegal deportation of thousands of children from Ukraine. The issuance of the warrant means that Putin could be arrested if he goes to any member country of the International Criminal Court.

"This is too delicate an issue, no one trusts anyone. They need an independent body that will have data on all children and will be recognized by both countries," said one of the participants in the negotiations.

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