20h ago / 2:03 PM CDT
Sens. Graham, Blumenthal float bill that would designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over missing children
Kristen Welker and Alexandra Marquez
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., are floating the possibility of introducing a bill in the Senate that, if passed, could designate Russia and Belarus as state sponsors of terrorism over the kidnapping of Ukrainian children, a source familiar with the bill tells NBC News.
The bill cites media reports and estimates from the Ukrainian government that show that Russia and Belarus have taken or displaced tens of thousands of Ukrainian children since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
"The Russian Federation has kidnapped, deported, or displaced Ukrainian children as young as a few months to 17-year-olds, according to reliable reports. President Putin’s regime seeks the ‘'Russification’' of Ukrainian children through kidnapping, deportation, or displacement to destroy their Ukrainian identity," a draft of the bill states. "The Russian puppet state, the Republic of Belarus, has directly supported the kidnapping of Ukrainian children and supported their relocation."
If the bill is introduced and passes, it would give Russia 60 days to prove that the missing children "have been reunited with their families or guardians in a secure environment; and the process of full reintegration of such children into Ukrainian society is underway." Otherwise, the bill directs the secretary of state to designate Russia and Belarus as state sponsors of terrorism.
Sens. Graham, Blumenthal float bill that would designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over missing children, continued
Blumenthal and Graham presented Zelenskyy with a copy of the bill draft in Rome last month.
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https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-putin-summit-live-updates-ukraines-volodymyr-zelenskyy-visit-tru-rcna225334#rcrd86613
