Six children will be returned to Ukraine from Russia under a deal brokered by Qatar, The Guardian has quoted AFP as saying.
Qatari Minister of State for International Cooperation Lolwah Al-Khater said both countries fully cooperated.
"[Qatar has facilitated] the reunification of six additional Ukrainian children with their families in time for the festive holidays. Both sides cooperated fully and engaged in good faith throughout the process, with Qatar serving as an intermediary," he said.
Khater said the Qatari mediation had come "in response to requests from Russia and Ukraine to identify and explore potential areas of cooperation, with the aim of establishing foundations of trust between the two sides".
The Guardian also reported that a Qatari official told Reuters of the deal on Tuesday, with a source involved in organising the returns saying they had been staying with relatives in Russia or Russian-occupied territory.
The children are en route to Ukraine via Moscow, the source added.
This is the second phase of a Qatar-mediated return of children, after four minors were returned in October.
Negotiations on the returns had been under way since at least April 2023, a source told Reuters in July.