Ukrainian child rescue drive and US‑Ukraine talks amid war

Maksym Maksymov, a young Ukrainian official working for the presidential office, heads the Bring Kids Back UA initiative that seeks to locate, return and reintegrate thousands of Ukrainian children taken by Russian forces. He estimates that 1.5‑1.6 million Ukrainian children are in Russian‑controlled areas, with at least 20 000 cases of forced removal. The programme documents name changes, dispersal across Russia and attempts at “patriotic education” that amount to forced re‑education.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House before both attended the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Ukraine. Zelensky used the closed‑door meeting to press for additional air‑defence systems and ammunition, while Trump’s administration continues to discuss further sanctions against Russia.