ISTANBUL 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Qatar on Wednesday for talks with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on bilateral relations and children held by Russia. 

In a post on his X account, Zelenskyy said his talks with the Qatari ruler will take up many bilateral economic and security issues.

“Qatar assists Ukraine in returning children abducted by Russia. We will discuss these efforts, which are both ongoing within the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and will be on the agenda for the Peace Summit,” he said.

In March, Ukraine and Russia exchanged six children through Qatari mediation.

“Qatar also took an active part in the Peace Summit preparations and should become one of the Middle Eastern voices in support of returning people home, as well as global food, nuclear, and energy security,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukraine peace summit is scheduled to take place at the Burgenstock Resort in Switzerland on June 15-16.

The conference follows a series of four international meetings aimed at developing a common understanding for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.