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.
…
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.