The United States may request the return of abducted Ukrainian children from Russia as part of a series of “confidence-building measures”, U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said in an interview with CBS News on March 23.
During the interview, Waltz was asked why the State Department had halted funding for a Yale University program tasked with tracking the deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia.
Waltz responded that Secretary Rubio is currently reviewing all related programs and declined to comment on this specific case.
“But I can say that President Trump has spoken to both leaders about prisoner exchanges. The Russians and Ukrainians exchanged nearly 200 prisoners immediately after that call. And he’s also talked about the future of these children. So that’s certainly, first and foremost, part of the confidence-building measures,” Waltz said.
When pressed on whether the U.S. is directly asking Russia to return kidnapped children as a confidence-building step, Waltz replied:
“We’re talking through a number of confidence-building measures. That’s one of them.”
Earlier, the United Nations condemned Russia for causing “unimaginable suffering” to millions of Ukrainian children.
The UN also reported the forcible transfer of at least 200 Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-occupied territories—an act the organization considers a potential war crime.
Experts suggest the actual number is likely much higher.
