European Parliament calls on Russia to return Ukrainian children

MEPs stressed that the return of the children must be one of the priorities in negotiations to end the war. The resolution was supported by 536 MEPs, with eight voting against and 37 abstaining, Ukrinform reports, citing the European Parliament’s press service . “The return of children is an obligation under international law and must never be used as a bargaining instrument or made conditional upon territorial concessions, prisoner exchanges, or other political agreements,” the press service said. MEPs condemned the systematic deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children, illegal adoptions, forced Russification, ideological indoctrination and militarization.