This blog is now closed, you can read more about our war policy in Ukraine here.
Six children will be returned to Ukraine from Russia under a deal brokered by Qatar, Reuters reports.
A Qatari official briefed the news outlet on the deal on Tuesday, and an official concerned about arranging the returns said they would be staying with relatives in Russia or Russian-occupied territory.
The young people are on their way to Ukraine Moscow, the source added.
This is the second phase of a Qatar-mediated children’s return, following the return of four children in October.
Negotiations on returns had been ongoing since at least April 2023, he told Reuters in July.
Qatar agreed to a Ukrainian request to mediate with Russia on the return of children to their immediate families during a visit to Ukraine in July 2023 by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
“The process involved attaining the consent of the families … identification of minors and verification of identification information, coordination with humanitarian organisations, as well as logistical arrangements,” a Qatari official said.
Reuters said the cases appear to be different from those of young Ukrainians who Ukraine says were forcibly brought to Russia from Moscow-occupied territories and are the subject of a case at the International Criminal Court.
Kiev says around 20,000 young people were taken from Ukraine to Russia or Russian-controlled territory without the consent of their families or guardians. He calls it a war crime that meets the definition of genocide under the United Nations treaty.
Thank you for continuing to read the blog about the Russia-Ukraine war today. It will close shortly, but you can continue reading the latest Guardian reports on Ukraine here.
Chris Stein will lead Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s speech to the U. S. Senate later in the U. S. Politics Live Blog (his speech is scheduled for 8 p. m. GMT).
Below is a closing summary of today’s key posts.
Measures taken by the Hungarian government in recent years to undermine independent institutions, as well as considerations about corruption and alleged misuse of EU funds, have led Brussels to withhold more than 27 billion euros ($23 billion) earmarked for Hungary.
However, in a move that is likely to fuel frustration among rule of law advocates, the commission has signalled that it would possibly be in a position to release up to €10 billion, due to progress made on judicial reforms. . .
Daniel Freund, a German Green MEP and critic of Orbán’s government, on Monday suggested the EU let Hungary have its way.
“The Orbán government did not fulfil the necessary reforms,” he said. “No money must flow. If the commission decides otherwise, it is only for one reason: they’re trying to appease Orbán who went completely overboard with his veto threat.”
[Qatar facilitated] the reunification of six more young Ukrainians with their families in time for the Christmas season.
Both sides cooperated fully and intelligently participated in the process, with Qatar acting as an intermediary.