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US May Push Russia to Return Forcibly Deported Ukrainian Children as “Confidence Building Measure”

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Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
Author
US May Push Russia to Return Forcibly Deported Ukrainian Children as “Confidence Building Measure”
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz participates in an interview with political commentator Mercedes Schlapp at the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 21, 2025, in Oxon Hill, US. (Source: Getty Images)

The United States may request the return of kidnapped Ukrainian children from Russia as part of “confidence building measures,” US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said in an interview with CBS News on March 23.

During the interview, the CBS host questioned Waltz about why the State Department halted funding for Yale University’s program dedicated to tracking Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

Waltz responded that Secretary Rubio is currently reviewing all such programs and that he could not specifically comment on this case.

“But I can say that President Trump has spoken to both leaders about prisoner exchanges. Both the Russians and Ukrainians exchanged prisoners, nearly 200, immediately following their call. And he’s also talked about the future of these children. So that’s certainly, first and foremost, and, kind of, confidence building measures,” Waltz said.

When asked for clarification on whether the US is directly asking Russia to return kidnapped Ukrainian children as a “confidence building measure,” Waltz responded: “We’re talking through a number of confidence building measures. That’s one of them.”

Earlier, The United Nations condemned Russia for inflicting “unimaginable suffering” on millions of Ukrainian children.

The report highlighted widespread abuses in the four Ukrainian regions temporarily occupied by Russia, including summary executions, arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence. It also documented instances of children being forced into military-patriotic training and subjected to a Russian school curriculum, both violations of international humanitarian law.

In addition, the UN reported the transfer of at least 200 Ukrainian children to Russia and Russian-occupied territories, which it described as potential war crimes. The number is likely much higher.

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