The HIV-positive mother of the baby boy that Elton John had been fighting to adopt spoke out over the weekend, stating that there was no way that she would ever allow Elton and his partner David Furnish to take her child out of the country.

25-year-old Marina is the mother of 15-month-old Lev, and another older son, who were both removed from her home after she became an alcoholic and lost the ability to care for them. The boys are currently living in a Ukrainian orphanage. Marina told reporters,

I will not give my baby to Elton John for any money. I understand Elton’s feelings. Lev is a very sunny and cheerful boy. It’s impossible not to love him.

But I’m going to overcome my problems. I so much want my babies back.

Elton and David had been told last month that their ages and sexual orientations were against the country’s adoption laws. Nevertheless, the couple had been working to try to convince the Ukrainian government to make an exception and allow them to take both Lev and his older brother home. They have also been casually looking into an African adoption after traveling over there for Elton’s Aids foundation.