- Category
- Latest news
US Senators Propose Designating Russia Terror Sponsor if Deported Ukrainian Children Are Not Returned
- Authors
![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
US Senators Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal, and Amy Klobuchar have introduced a bill in Congress calling for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children illegally deported by Russia.
The announcement was made by Senator Graham at a press conference on September 11.
According to Graham, if Moscow refuses to return the 19,000 identified children, the United States should designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.
“What does it mean to be a state sponsor of terrorism under US law? Your economy is radioactive. Business will be conducted at your own risk. We have laws that punish state sponsors of terrorism. It is hard to get onto this list. Russia has earned the right to be on this list. So today we are going to introduce our bill. We are going to ask leaders of both parties to give us the opportunity to discuss this and vote on it,” Graham stated.
The senator emphasized that the initiative is designed to give US President Donald Trump additional tools to pressure Moscow. He noted that Russian strikes on Ukraine have only intensified, and recent drone incursions into Polish airspace demonstrate growing escalation.
Graham also called on President Trump to support the legislation, stressing its importance as leverage against Russia. He added that the White House is “prepared to make China pay for supporting Putin” and confirmed that talks are ongoing with the European Union on this issue.
Earlier, Ukraine brought home a 17-year-old boy from Russia as part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
