In February, former President Donald Trump offered a glimmer of hope to many Ukrainian families.
When asked if he believed President Vladimir Putin would help return over 19,500 Ukrainian children, he confidently replied, “Yes, I believe I can.”
He added, “That’s pretty difficult, but I think I can do that.”
This Friday, he may get the opportunity.
The Trump-Putin Conference occurring on August 15th in Alaska is seen as a prime occasion for him to address this matter directly.
The UN Commission on Ukraine has classified Russia’s actions as war crimes, with the European Court of Human Rights overseeing related aid efforts.
Yet, international bodies have struggled to facilitate the return of these children.
Since the onset of Putin’s invasion, thousands of children taken by Russia face extreme dangers like human trafficking, illegal adoptions, loss of identity, and militarization.
As preparations for the Alaska meeting progress, disturbing news has surfaced. According to the Ukrainian NGO Save Ukraine, Russia has created an online “catalog” of children, which organizes details like age, eye color, and number of siblings.
This catalog goes beyond mere physical attributes, also including personality traits like obedience and attitudes towards authority, alongside clear photographs.
Mykola Kuleba, the founder of Save Ukraine, expressed severe concern, saying, “These children are not ‘war orphans.’ They had names, families, and Ukrainian citizenship. I don’t care about this. It’s state-sponsored child trafficking.”
He pointed out that the catalog serves as ideal material for child traffickers, calling it unacceptable for civilized societies.
Trump’s upcoming meeting could be a critical moment for advocating their return.
The international community, from Argentina to Japan, is pushing for action on this issue.
It’s essential that Trump makes this a priority in discussions with Putin during the summit.
Bipartisan support in Congress has already been evident. This is one of the few issues that has clear moral clarity.
In May, bipartisan senators introduced Senate Resolution 236, urging the administration to ensure the return of the Ukrainian children accused prior to a peace agreement. The House also put forth a similar bipartisan resolution.
However, Russia continues to resist these demands.
At a June meeting in Istanbul, Ukrainian representatives raised the issue, presenting a list of 339 children, hoping it would test Moscow’s willingness to engage in good faith.
Reports say that officials from the Kremlin laughed off the request.
Ultimately, Russia released just six children from that list, out of more than 19,500 documented by Kyiv.
Trump has shown visible frustration over the lack of progress in achieving peace.
He’s right about that: Putin’s repeated empty promises and tactics to delay have stifled any pathway to reconciliation.
On another note, Russia recently launched a concerning number of attack drones into Ukrainian cities, targeting schools and hospitals, which certainly doesn’t bode well.
Given the circumstances, it’s understandable that Trump—worn out from the struggles—hopes for tangible outcomes from the meeting.
He recognizes that lasting peace is usually achieved through strength, a principle he emphasized during his presidential campaign.
If Putin dismisses calls for a ceasefire or fails to demonstrate true intentions for peace, he’s warned of severe sanctions, and that’s not an unreasonable stance.
This summit should provide Putin one last opportunity to demonstrate genuine commitment.
Any viable peace agreement must ensure that Ukraine has a voice in the discussion about its own future.
While the Trump administration indicates that both sides must compromise, Moscow has not offered any substantial concessions.
If Russia wants to prove its sincerity to the U.S., returning the abducted Ukrainian children is a necessary initial step.
As a seasoned negotiator, Trump is in a position to secure this crucial concession.
Doing so could even become a defining moment for him.
Putin must leave the summit with a clear understanding: the abducted Ukrainian children are not bargaining chips and must be returned immediately.
