U.S. senators call for return of abducted Ukrainian children before Russia peace deal

This is reported on the U.S. Senate website.

The group is led by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley and Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar. They were joined by senators Roger Wicker, Joni Ernst, Rick Scott, Dick Durbin, and John Fetterman — representatives from both parties.

“Putin’s inhumane and unprovoked attack on Ukraine started the largest war in Europe since World War II. He has kidnapped thousands of children to brainwash and Russify them in an attempt to destroy their cultural identity and heritage. The United States ought to demand these children are returned before inking a deal to end the war in Ukraine,” Grassley said.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President's Office, called the resolution an important signal from the U.S.

He emphasized that the abduction of children is not just a war crime. According to him, it’s an attempt to wipe out Ukrainian identity and destroy the nation’s future: “We will not allow this.”

“I’m grateful to the senators for their support. Bringing every child home is our shared responsibility. And this is a condition for ending the war,” Yermak added.

• Nine children were recently brought back from the temporarily occupied territories to areas under Ukrainian control, including a family that was forced by Russian forces to accept Russian documents so a pregnant woman could be taken to a maternity hospital.