Ukraine Rejects Russia Child-Kidnap POW Exchange Offer

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia's offer to exchange abducted Ukrainian children for Russian prisoners of war, calling it madness and a violation of international law. He emphasized that children are not prisoners of war and should not be subject to exchange, highlighting Ukraine's diplomatic efforts involving multiple countries to secure their return. Dariia Zarivna, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, warned that Russia's militarization of abducted Ukrainian children poses a long-term global security threat, with over 1,300 children already returned under Ukraine's Bring Kids Back initiative. The issue of returning abducted children remains a critical humanitarian and security challenge, with ongoing negotiations and international involvement. Meanwhile, prisoner exchanges continue as a hopeful humanitarian measure amidst persistent Russian shelling of Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv, underscoring the resilience and unity of the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom and independence.