Ukraine Demands Unconditional Return of Children, Rejects Exchange Deals

Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, has firmly stated that Russian-occupied Ukrainian children must be returned unconditionally and cannot be included in any prisoner exchange lists. In an interview with Ukrinform, Betsa emphasized that treating children as bargaining chips is unacceptable and constitutes a violation of humanitarian principles. She accused Russia of attempting to leverage the return of children to secure the release of individuals labeled as traitors by Kyiv. Betsa highlighted that international organizations have classified the abduction and indoctrination of Ukrainian children as war crimes and crimes against humanity. She underscored the urgent need for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, headquartered in The Hague, to ensure accountability for Russian leadership. Betsa described the issue as a 'red line' for the Ukrainian government, asserting that no just peace is possible without holding authoritarian regimes accountable for such violations. The statement reinforces Ukraine's diplomatic stance that the return of children is a non-negotiable humanitarian imperative, distinct from military or political negotiations.