Qatar is ready to assist in returning Ukrainian children from Russia - Shmyhal

The State of Qatar is ready to assist in the return of illegally exported Ukrainian children from the Russian Federation.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said this at a briefing with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Al Thani in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Shmyhal pointed out that he has discussed a number of important issues with his Qatari counterpart, including the reconstruction of Ukraine, the implementation of specific steps of the Peace Formula proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, in the areas of food security, energy security, and the return of prisoners and deportees.

"We are grateful to the State of Qatar for its readiness to make mediation efforts in the return of Ukrainian children illegally taken by Russia and still kept on its territory," the Prime Minister emphasized.

He said that he agreed with the head of the Qatari government to continue cooperation within the framework of the joint intergovernmental commission on economic, trade, and technical cooperation, as well as to establish other specialized working groups and commissions to work out issues in various areas of cooperation, "from high technology and digitalization to water supply to Ukrainians in need."

As reported, Qatar is allocating $100 million to overcome the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and $20 million to provide African countries with food.