Ukraine and Qatar reinforce cooperation to repatriate abducted children

Ukraine and Qatar have reached an agreement to strengthen bilateral cooperation and expand the small yet influential Middle Eastern country’s humanitarian role, particularly with efforts to bring back Ukrainian children whom Russia has forcibly deported. 

The announcement was made by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha following a meeting with his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, in Rome on Nov. 25.

“I relayed the situation and Ukraine’s urgent energy needs. We agreed to advance cooperation in a number of areas and expand Qatar’s humanitarian role,” Sybiha stated, adding that he expressed gratitude to Qatar for its leadership in facilitating the return of Ukrainian children.

Since 2023, Qatar has been acting as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia to secure the return of children illegally taken from occupied Ukrainian territories. 

“Qatar is currently the only country publicly assisting Ukraine in the repatriation of these children,” reports BBC Ukraine.

The first successful homecomings were reported in the fall of 2023, when several children were reunited with their families in Ukraine. To date, Qatar’s mediation has resulted in the return of 87 children. Seven of them arrived back in Ukraine on Nov. 28.

While Qatar does not provide Ukraine with military support or endorse sanctions against Russia, it has made significant humanitarian contributions. The country has allocated $100 million to support Ukraine’s energy sector, provide ambulances and finance hospitals, according to BBC Ukraine.

“My interpretation of Qatar’s actions is that their heart is with Ukraine. They understand what it’s like to be a small country threatened by a larger neighbor, but they also have strategic interests in Russia and concerns about its influence,” Omar Ashour, a professor of security and military studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, told BBC Ukraine.

Qatar’s mediation efforts have also helped Ukraine obtain lists of missing soldiers and facilitated the delivery of letters from Ukrainian prisoners of war to their families.