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Russia Allegedly Dismisses Return of Ukrainian Children Plea as a “Show for Bleeding-Heart Old Ladies”
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![Maryna_kulakova]( "Photo of Maryna Kulakova")
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During the Istanbul peace talks on June 2, Russia’s lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky reportedly dismissed Ukraine’s call to return deported children with a mocking remark, saying, “Don’t put on a show for bleeding-heart European old ladies.”
The comment was reported by The Economist journalist Oliver Carroll, citing a source familiar with the closed-door negotiations. According to the source, the remark came after the Ukrainian delegation handed over a list of hundreds of children who had been forcibly taken to Russia.
Ukrainian side passed on list of 100s of children deported to Russia. A source with knowledge of the exchanges says head of Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky responded thus: “Don’t put on a show for bleeding-heart European old ladies with no children of their own" (2/3)
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 2, 2025
Medinsky is quoted as saying, “Don’t put on a show for bleeding-heart European old ladies with no children of their own.”
Carroll also reported that the Russian side insisted—both in this round and the previous one—that no US representatives be present at the talks, which was also confirmed by Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi.
Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, confirmed that the Ukrainian side had officially submitted a list of deported Ukrainian children during the negotiations.
Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to exchange all seriously ill prisoners of war and those under the age of 25, according to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov following the talks in Istanbul on June 2.
