Zelenskyy responds to Russia's demands to return children and Kursk region residents
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo: RBC-Ukraine, Vitalii Nosach)
Ukraine is not aware of the presence of Russian children on its territory. Moscow often uses such statements as an attempt to exert pressure in response to Kyiv's actions on the international stage, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated during communication with the media on July 24.
Demands by Russia to return children and residents of the Kursk region
As Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Russia, Mikhail Galuzin, said, the Russian side during the last negotiations in Istanbul raised the issue of the return of Russian children who allegedly remain on the territory of Ukraine or were taken to countries of the European Union.
"And we not only raised this issue, but also handed over to the Ukrainian side a list of children who are accordingly in Ukraine and in EU countries, it's about 20 persons," he said.
In particular, after the last negotiations, the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, accused Ukraine of allegedly "not fulfilling the condition of the memorandum on the return of all residents of the Kursk region."
What Zelenskyy says
According to Zelenskyy, the issue of the so-called Russian children and residents of the Kursk region needs to be sorted out.
He explained that there are no Russian children in Ukraine, and overall, these demands by Russia are some kind of new track, which no longer causes surprise, since the Kremlin systematically launches such campaigns in response to Ukraine’s actions.
For example, as the president reminded, after Kyiv raised the issue of the illegitimacy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow began to spread rumors about the alleged illegitimacy of the President of Ukraine himself. Similarly, when the Ukrainian side drew attention to the fact that Russians do not collect the bodies of their dead, the Russian Federation suddenly activated the topic of the exchange of bodies. However, previously, these processes took place without unnecessary publicity.
"And now, you see, they realized that they handed over to us the Russians (bodies – ed.), and then realized that this pressure is already working against them.
Although they had discussed this issue. Of course, the exchange of bodies is important; it is important to return one’s own," he added.
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia
Over the past few months, Ukraine and the Russian Federation have already held three rounds of negotiations. The last meeting took place on July 23 in the territory of Türkiye. Before the start of the dialogue, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, stated that Ankara is ready to assist with monitoring the ceasefire in Ukraine.
All the details about the new round of negotiations in Istanbul–in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
