The State Department is providing support to Ukraine and trusted local partners.
The Department of State announced $25 million in new budgetary aid to support the return of Ukrainian children who were forcibly removed from their home country. The department said the assistance will help to secure the “identification, return, and rehabilitation” of the children.
The State Department spokesperson said, “Dozens of U.S.-funded assistance programs continue to provide critical life-saving assistance for civilians affected by the violence — including these children, who are among the most vulnerable victims of this brutal and senseless war.”
First Lady Melania Trump has been an active facilitator of the effort to return and reunite Ukrainian children with their families. Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska stated that it is very difficult to track the kidnapped children, as Russia has a network of over 200 facilities across the country to which they have been taken.
Ukraine reported that 20,750 cases of deported and forcibly relocated children are being processed. A United Nations (U.N.) investigation found the actions of Russia on this issue to be a crime against humanity. Russia has denied the actions regarding the abduction of Ukrainian children.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For First Lady Melania Trump as she advocates for the abducted Ukrainian children.
- For Secretary Rubio and U.S. diplomats as they coordinate the assistance to Ukraine and seek peace between Russia and Ukraine.
- For the Ukrainian government and their local partners as they seek to secure the safe return of the children.
Sources: Reuters, State Department
