President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 28 at the White House, where they discussed how to resuscitate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. As the United States weighs making another run at a peace deal, it must ensure that the return of the 20,610 Ukrainian children deported or forcibly transferred to Russia is part of any agreement. First lady Melania Trump has personally brokered five rounds of reunifications, bringing 30 children home, and urged Russia and Ukraine “to intensify their efforts to ensure the safe return of every child.”This is not just a humanitarian cause, but an essential precondition for ending the war because Ukraine will not abandon its children. While Kyiv and Moscow will have to hammer out a deal at the negotiating table, Washington should use sanctions to punish the perpetrators of these mass abductions, creating pressure for Russia’s victims’ return as part of any agreement.
Congressional leaders from both parties share Melania Trump’s concern for Ukraine’s missing children. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) co-sponsored the Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act, which the president signed into law in December 2025. This bill supports Ukraine’s investigation and tracking of missing children, helps them reintegrate with their families, and supports prosecutions of the Russian perpetrators. As Klobuchar said, “Now that our bipartisan bill is law, our country will provide necessary support to track these children, support those who return home, and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
