KTTC

By Caitlin Alexander

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Leaders from Minnesota and Iowa are continuing their efforts to support Ukrainian children kidnapped during the war with Russia to be returned home.

This update comes as First Lady Melania Trump announces Friday that Russia has allowed eight Ukrainian children to reunite with their parents, following months of private discussions between Russian officials and the first lady’s office.

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Chuck Grassley of Iowa announced their bipartisan “Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act” passed the Senate. This legislation was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026.

The bill aims to support Ukraine’s efforts to investigate and track the more than 19,000 Ukrainian children who have been kidnapped during Russia’s invasion.