Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., are considering legislation that would designate Russia and Belarus as state sponsors of terrorism over the kidnapping of Ukrainian children.
The bill cites media reports and Ukrainian government estimates that tens of thousands of children have been taken or displaced since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a source familiar with the proposed legislation told NBC News.
“The Russian Federation has kidnapped, deported, or displaced Ukrainian children as young as a few months to 17-year-olds, according to reliable reports. [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin’s regime seeks the ‘Russification’ of Ukrainian children through kidnapping, deportation, or displacement to destroy their Ukrainian identity,” the draft states. “The Russian puppet state, the Republic of Belarus, has directly supported the kidnapping of Ukrainian children and supported their relocation.”
Read more at Newsmax© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.