Qatar, South Africa and the Vatican will mediate negotiations for the repatriation of Ukrainian children deported to Russia

MADRID Nov. 1 () –

Qatar, South Africa and the Vatican have offered this Thursday to mediate in the negotiations with the Kremlin for the repatriation of tens of thousands of Ukrainian minors who have been separated from their families to be transferred to Russian territory since the beginning of the invasion. Russia from Ukraine in February 2022.

The announcement was made at the Ministerial Conference on the human dimension of the Ukrainian peace formula held in Montreal (Canada), from where the Canadian Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, expressed her gratitude to the countries that have committed to this sense, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Presidency.

“I want to thank Qatar, South Africa and the Vatican for their role as intermediary in negotiating the return of the children. Also Qatar and Lithuania for acting as transit countries for the return of these minors,” he declared. Likewise, he stressed that the United Arab Emirates continues to be a mediator in the negotiations on the exchange of prisoners of war.

Conference participants have agreed to form a group of countries to cooperate with Ukraine in seeking information about captured Ukrainians, including children, and to assist in data collection and verification. They have also committed to supporting Ukraine in the reintegration of returnees and to conduct communication campaigns on the illegal detention and ill-treatment of civilians and prisoners of war, as well as the deportations of children.