European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia must be treated as a top priority in any peace talks. Speaking in Washington, she noted that “thousands” of minors have been removed from Ukrainian territory and insisted that every child must be reunited with family members. Ukrainian officials have given Moscow a list containing 339 names of children whose whereabouts are known, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky disputed Kyiv’s characterization, claiming that several of the youngsters were “rescued” rather than abducted. The dispute over the children coincided with a large-scale exchange of war dead. Kyiv received the remains of about 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers while transferring 19 bodies to Russia, according to statements from both sides confirmed by local and international media outlets. It is one of the biggest such exchanges since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. The parallel humanitarian issues underscore the stakes as diplomats from Ukraine, Russia and international partners prepare for further negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and addressing its human-rights fallout.