Russia’s cannibalistic statement: “Don’t put on a show for compassionate European old ladies who don’t have their own children” at talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2, 2025

On June 2, 2025, at negotiations in Istanbul, a scandalous episode occurred that shook the entire world.

Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky allowed himself such a cynical statement that his words are still splashed across the news pages. When Ukraine demanded the return of illegally deported children, Medinsky declared:

“Do not put on a show for sympathetic European grandmothers who have no children of their own.”

According to The Economist correspondent Oliver Carroll, this remark was directed at the lists of “several hundred” children abducted by Russia that the Ukrainian side presented at the meeting.

Medinsky, insisting that “there is not a single kidnapped child; there are children saved by our soldiers,” brutally desecrated the humanitarian aspect of the talks and revealed the Kremlin’s true attitude toward the fate of innocent children.

Context of the Meeting and Ukraine’s Key Demands

The Ukrainian delegation raised the question of returning hundreds of children who were forcefully taken to Russia. Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak emphasized:

“We are talking about hundreds of children whom Russia has illegally deported, forcibly relocated, or is holding in temporarily occupied territories. We are waiting for a response. The ball is in Russia’s court.”

This demand seems absolutely justified: returning the children is the main gesture of good faith and seriousness of intent. It is felt all the more acutely by the Jewish diaspora in Israel, where hundreds of families have already suffered from the horrors of war.

However, at the moment when Ukraine presented the lists of children, Medinsky allowed himself to insult not only Ukraine but also Europe and everyone who does not share “Moscow’s values.” In those words lies not just politics but outright contempt for human life.

Prisoner Exchanges and the “6000 for 6000” Formula

Aside from the humanitarian scandal over the children, the negotiations also covered other key issues. By the end of the meeting, the Ukrainian and Russian sides agreed on the largest prisoner and fallen-soldier body exchange:

• Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov stated:

“We agreed on an ‘all for all’ exchange of critically wounded and critically ill prisoners of war. The second category is young soldiers aged 18 to 25, ‘all for all.’ We also agreed to return ‘6000 for 6000’ bodies of fallen soldiers.”

However, with regard to the children, Russia effectively agreed to return only 10 individuals by July 10, 2025—despite Kyiv having submitted lists of “several hundred” children. This once again highlights just how far Moscow is removed from any norms of humanity.

“Not People” — How Medinsky Tried to “Humiliate” Not Only Ukraine but Also Europe

The cruelty of the rhetoric from Russia’s representative cannot be reduced to mere verbal insults. In his remark is embedded a deep ideological message: “These scoundrels (Moskals) see their greatness only in humiliating all those who are better than them.”

In Istanbul, Medinsky disdainfully characterized Europe as “countries of grandmothers” who are “childless themselves.” This is not just boldness; it is an outright denial of the dignity of millions of women and elderly people, as well as an attempt to destroy any empathy toward another’s tragedy.

For readers of NAnews — Israel News, especially those with Ukrainian roots, such rhetoric is perceived as a personal insult. The Jewish people, with their particularly sensitive understanding of the Holocaust’s lessons, see the rescue and return of children as a moral imperative.

Why This Matters for the Israeli Audience

• Empathy and Connection with Ukraine
  Over 200,000 people of Ukrainian origin live in Israel. Their relatives remain in the conflict zone, live in exile, or wander through refugee camps. Medinsky’s cynical rhetoric about the children generates deep concern: if even during talks with the Minister of Defense and Russia’s representative one cannot achieve justice, what awaits the civilian population?
• Political Consequences
  Israel traditionally aims to maintain good-neighbor relations with Russia, as a significant portion of Russian Jews have moved to Israel over the past decades. However, a situation where a Russian State Duma deputy or official openly insults Ukrainian children and adults puts Israel in a difficult position: to preserve balance or publicly condemn such a policy.
• Cultural Solidarity
  The Jewish community in Israel values humanity and mutual assistance. The humanitarian catastrophe related to abducted children and the heartless justifications by Russian authorities have become one of the pressing topics at cultural and public forums: from charity events to annual memorials dedicated to Holocaust victims.

Key Findings and Recommendations

• Do Not Believe Russian Propaganda
  Russia insists that “the children were saved,” but independent human rights organizations document hundreds of deportation cases. Israelis should carefully verify information sources and rely on data from international bodies.
• Support Ukrainian Jews
  Through the NAnews — Israel News platform, you can learn how to help directly: from donating funds to volunteering on the ground.
• Express a Public Position
  In a democratic society, it is important for every voice to be heard: participating in rallies, signing petitions, and spreading the truth about events in Ukraine helps maintain pressure on those who try to ignore humanitarian issues.
• Monitor Further Exchanges
  Prisoner exchanges will continue, and each subsequent meeting may bring both positive shifts and new disappointments. It is crucial to understand that only a unified international coalition can compel Russia to fulfill its obligations to return all the children.

Arrest Warrant for Putin over Child Abductions

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for the sitting head of state—President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. At the same time, the court issued a warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, the Commissioner for Children’s Rights under the President of the Russian Federation. The charges concerned war crimes, namely the illegal deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied territories.

The ICC’s investigation began as early as March 2022. ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan collected evidence demonstrating that, due to large-scale hostilities in the Donbas, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, hundreds of Ukrainian children were forcibly taken to Russia. These children were registered in Russian databases, and their documents were rewritten to eliminate any possibility of returning to Ukraine. Lvova-Belova, as the President’s representative for children’s rights, supervised “adaptation” and adoption programs for these children, actions that directly violated the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.

On March 17, 2023, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber approved the investigation materials and issued arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova. In the charges against Putin, it was stated that, as the highest leadership of the country, he bore responsibility for the deportations, while Lvova-Belova was accused of organizing “adoption” schemes and promoting these programs through Russian custodial authorities. Russia does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, so the warrants remain unexecuted: no country has yet dared to arrest either of them.