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Return of Ukrainian Children Illegally Deported by Russia Is Key Focus in Ceasefire Talks, Says Zelenskyy
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![Amira_barkhush]( "Amira Barkhush")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with Eurovision News on March 26 that one of Kyiv’s main priorities during recent ceasefire negotiations with the United States in Saudi Arabia was the return of Ukrainian children who were illegally deported to Russia.
“There was also one very important point,” Zelenskyy said. “It somehow disappeared from the media field. Although I think that this is the number one thing we were going for. This is an exchange for the return of our children, whom the Russians stole.”
“And we agreed that the US would help us. And an exchange of military and civilian prisoners. That was the agenda,” Zelenskyy added.
On March 25, Zelenskyy confirmed that a 30-day ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea and a mutual ban on strikes against energy infrastructure between Ukraine and Russia, brokered with US involvement, came into effect on Tuesday.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine and the US reached a joint statement, where one of the points focuses on the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, civilian detainees, and deported children.
On March 26, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged that the United Kingdom would do everything possible to support the return of Ukrainian children who were illegally taken to Russia.
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