The UN General Assembly on Wednesday (Dec 3) urged Russia to immediately and without conditions return the Ukrainian children "forcibly transferred". Member states voted 91 to 12 in favour of a resolution demanding their immediate and unconditional return. Meanwhile, 57 countries abstained from voting, and Russia rejected the move outright. The resolution "demands that the Russian Federation ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported." It also urges an end to the indoctrination of Ukrainian children.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-claims-putin-would-like-to-end-the-ukraine-war-despite-failed-kremlin-talks-1764809592094">Trump claims Putin 'would like to end the Ukraine war' despite failed Kremlin talks</a><h2>Largest state abduction operation in history</h2>The resolution calls on Moscow to "cease, without delay, any further practice of forcible transfer, deportation, separation from families and legal guardians, change of personal status, including through citizenship, adoption or placement in foster families, and indoctrination of Ukrainian children."Ukraine says at least 20,000 children have been taken since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Only about 1,850 have made it back. Mariana Betsa, Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister, told the assembly that Russia is carrying out "the largest state abduction operation in history," and that "there will be no just peace in Ukraine without the immediate unconditional return of our children back home."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-seals-landmark-deal-to-ban-all-russian-gas-imports-withing-three-years-1764742000341">EU seals landmark deal to ban all Russian gas imports within three years</a><h2>Moscow's defence</h2>Russia, meanwhile, insists it moved some children to safety from active combat zones. Its deputy UN envoy, Maria Zabolotskaya, dismissed the resolution as "full of mendacious accusations," arguing that votes in favour only fuel division. "Each vote for the resolution is a support for lies, war, and confrontation. Every voice against is a vote for peace," she insisted.The vote comes as the United States tries to get Russia and Ukraine to agree to US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war.

The UN General Assembly voted 91-12 to demand that Russia return Ukrainian children taken since the 2022 invasion. Kyiv calls it the largest state abduction in history. Moscow denies wrongdoing, claiming it moved children to safety.

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday (Dec 3) urged Russia to immediately and without conditions return the Ukrainian children "forcibly transferred". Member states voted 91 to 12 in favour of a resolution demanding their immediate and unconditional return. Meanwhile, 57 countries abstained from voting, and Russia rejected the move outright. The resolution "demands that the Russian Federation ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported." It also urges an end to the indoctrination of Ukrainian children. Also read | Trump claims Putin 'would like to end the Ukraine war' despite failed Kremlin talks Largest state abduction operation in history The resolution calls on Moscow to "cease, without delay, any further practice of forcible transfer, deportation, separation from families and legal guardians, change of personal status, including through citizenship, adoption or placement in foster families, and indoctrination of Ukrainian children." Ukraine says at least 20,000 children have been taken since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Only about 1,850 have made it back. Mariana Betsa, Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister, told the assembly that Russia is carrying out "the largest state abduction operation in history," and that "there will be no just peace in Ukraine without the immediate unconditional return of our children back home." Also read | EU seals landmark deal to ban all Russian gas imports within three years Moscow's defence Russia, meanwhile, insists it moved some children to safety from active combat zones. Its deputy UN envoy, Maria Zabolotskaya, dismissed the resolution as "full of mendacious accusations," arguing that votes in favour only fuel division. "Each vote for the resolution is a support for lies, war, and confrontation. Every voice against is a vote for peace," she insisted. The vote comes as the United States tries to get Russia and Ukraine to agree to US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war.

The UN General Assembly voted 91-12 to demand that Russia return Ukrainian children taken since the 2022 invasion. Kyiv calls it the largest state abduction in history. Moscow denies wrongdoing, claiming it moved children to safety.

'Largest state abduction operation in history': UN demands Russia return thousands of captive Ukrainian children

Talks to bring home thousands of Ukraine children that have been "abducted" by Russia have reportedly been underway since April.

On Wednesday, talking to Reuters, a source with knowledge of the discussions, confirmed a previous Finance Times report that Saudi Arabia and Turkey are trying to mediate the repatriation efforts and bring home Ukrainian children that have been taken to Russia, and placed in children's homes or even adopted by Russian families.

<h2>Talks going on for months</h2>

"The Turks and the Saudis especially have been showing an interest in bringing Ukrainian children back," the source told Reuters on the condition of anonymity.

As per the Reuters source, talks had been going on since April, but they could've started earlier.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/31-children-that-russia-stole-return-home-to-ukraine-580540">31 children that Russia 'stole' return home to Ukraine</a>

The individual reportedly failed to disclose the status of the talks. They, however, expressed doubt that a deal would be reached and said it would depend on Russian President Vladimir Putin accepting he's a "war criminal".

"For him to give (the children) back would mean that he agrees that he's a war criminal."

The source did not indicate to Reuters how the talks were going but expressed doubt that a deal would be reached because it would depend on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"For him to give (the children) back would mean that he agrees that he's a war criminal," the source said.

On Tuesday, quoting four people, a Financial Times report said that the discussions have been underway for several months.

<h2>Abduction of Ukrainian children</h2>

Ukraine has accused Russia of illegally carrying out the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian&nbsp;children. Russia has, however, denied the "abduction" allegation and says they were transported for their own safety, and to save the children from the horrors of the war.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-consider-ukraine-bound-ships-to-be-carrying-military-cargo-617577">Russia to consider Ukraine-bound ships to be carrying 'military cargo'</a>

In March, the International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war crime of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.&nbsp; At the time, another warrant on similar charges was also issued for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights.

As per Kyiv's estimates, nearly 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since the beginning of the invasion. Of these only 385 children have been repatriated, show Ukrainian official figures.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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Talks to bring home thousands of Ukraine children that have been "abducted" by Russia have reportedly been underway since April. On Wednesday, talking to Reuters, a source with knowledge of the discussions, confirmed a previous Finance Times report that Saudi Arabia and Turkey are trying to mediate the repatriation efforts and bring home Ukrainian children that have been taken to Russia, and placed in children's homes or even adopted by Russian families.

Talks to bring home thousands of Ukraine children that have been "abducted" by Russia have reportedly been underway since April. On Wednesday, talking to Reuters, a source with knowledge of the discussions, confirmed a previous Finance Times report that Saudi Arabia and Turkey are trying to mediate the repatriation efforts and bring home Ukrainian children that have been taken to Russia, and placed in children's homes or even adopted by Russian families. Talks going on for months "The Turks and the Saudis especially have been showing an interest in bringing Ukrainian children back," the source told Reuters on the condition of anonymity. As per the Reuters source, talks had been going on since April, but they could've started earlier. Also read | 31 children that Russia 'stole' return home to Ukraine The individual reportedly failed to disclose the status of the talks. They, however, expressed doubt that a deal would be reached and said it would depend on Russian President Vladimir Putin accepting he's a "war criminal". "For him to give (the children) back would mean that he agrees that he's a war criminal." The source did not indicate to Reuters how the talks were going but expressed doubt that a deal would be reached because it would depend on Russian President Vladimir Putin. "For him to give (the children) back would mean that he agrees that he's a war criminal," the source said. On Tuesday, quoting four people, a Financial Times report said that the discussions have been underway for several months. Abduction of Ukrainian children Ukraine has accused Russia of illegally carrying out the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children. Russia has, however, denied the "abduction" allegation and says they were transported for their own safety, and to save the children from the horrors of the war. Also read | Russia to consider Ukraine-bound ships to be carrying 'military cargo' In March, the International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war crime of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. At the time, another warrant on similar charges was also issued for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights. As per Kyiv's estimates, nearly 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since the beginning of the invasion. Of these only 385 children have been repatriated, show Ukrainian official figures. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Talks to bring back Ukrainian children 'abducted' by Russia on since April: Report

A Russian state TV anchor was suspended for inciting genocide by saying that Ukraine children should be burnt alive and drowned.

Anton Krasovsky, the 47-year-old presenter at the state-funded Russia Today (RT), triggered a massive outrage after he said, “They should have been drowned in the Tysyna [river].”

“Just drown those children, drown them," he said last week during a live broadcast which hosted a fiction writer.

He further said that they could be shoved into huts and burned, apart from jokingly suggesting that Russian soldiers should be raping Ukrainian grandmothers.

Apparently, Krasovsky’s comments came in response to a guest talking about meeting Ukrainian children in the 1980s who said they saw Russia as an occupier in Soviet times.

His comments drew wide condemnation from the Ukraine officials as well as the Russian authorities, who have launched a probe into the matter.

According to reports, Russia's Investigative Committee, which handles serious crimes, is probing Krasovsky's comments.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba shared a clip of the show calling for an immediate ban on the RT channel.

"This is what you side with if you allow RT to operate in your countries. Aggressive genocide incitement (we will put this person on trial for it), which has nothing to do with freedom of speech,” he tweeted.

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Governments which still have not banned RT must watch this excerpt. This is what you side with if you allow RT to operate in your countries. Aggressive genocide incitement (we will put this person on trial for it), which has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Ban RT worldwide! <a href="https://t.co/xJC371rqyg">https://t.co/xJC371rqyg</a>
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) <a href="https://twitter.com/DmytroKuleba/status/1584161496086417409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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After facing backlash, Krasovsky, who joined RT in 2020, apologised for his remarks on Monday, saying that he was “truly embarrassed that I somehow didn’t see the boundary. About children. But it happens like this: you’re in the middle of a broadcast, and you get carried away. And you can’t stop … I hope you’ll forgive me.”

RT’s editor-in-chief, Margarita&nbsp;Simonyan, in a post said that the incident has embarrassed the channel and sought to distance itself from Krasovsky’s remarks.

“For the moment, I am halting our cooperation [with Krasovsky], because neither I nor the rest of the RT team can allow even the thought to flash that one of us is capable of supporting such savagery."

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Russian state TV anchor was suspended for inciting genocide by saying that Ukraine children should be burnt alive and drowned. Anton Krasovsky, the 47-year-old presenter at the state-funded Russia Today (RT), triggered a massive outrage after he said, “They should have been drowned in the Tysyna [river].

A Russian state TV anchor was suspended for inciting genocide by saying that Ukraine children should be burnt alive and drowned. Anton Krasovsky, the 47-year-old presenter at the state-funded Russia Today (RT), triggered a massive outrage after he said, “They should have been drowned in the Tysyna [river].” “Just drown those children, drown them," he said last week during a live broadcast which hosted a fiction writer. He further said that they could be shoved into huts and burned, apart from jokingly suggesting that Russian soldiers should be raping Ukrainian grandmothers. Apparently, Krasovsky’s comments came in response to a guest talking about meeting Ukrainian children in the 1980s who said they saw Russia as an occupier in Soviet times. His comments drew wide condemnation from the Ukraine officials as well as the Russian authorities, who have launched a probe into the matter. According to reports, Russia's Investigative Committee, which handles serious crimes, is probing Krasovsky's comments. Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba shared a clip of the show calling for an immediate ban on the RT channel. "This is what you side with if you allow RT to operate in your countries. Aggressive genocide incitement (we will put this person on trial for it), which has nothing to do with freedom of speech,” he tweeted. Governments which still have not banned RT must watch this excerpt. This is what you side with if you allow RT to operate in your countries. Aggressive genocide incitement (we will put this person on trial for it), which has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Ban RT worldwide! https://t.co/xJC371rqyg — Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) October 23, 2022 × After facing backlash, Krasovsky, who joined RT in 2020, apologised for his remarks on Monday, saying that he was “truly embarrassed that I somehow didn’t see the boundary. About children. But it happens like this: you’re in the middle of a broadcast, and you get carried away. And you can’t stop … I hope you’ll forgive me.” RT’s editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, in a post said that the incident has embarrassed the channel and sought to distance itself from Krasovsky’s remarks. “For the moment, I am halting our cooperation [with Krasovsky], because neither I nor the rest of the RT team can allow even the thought to flash that one of us is capable of supporting such savagery." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Russian TV presenter calls for Ukrainian kids to be burned, drowned on air, suspended

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