Russia has abducted thousands of Ukrainian children, separating them from their families and attempting to erase their Ukrainian identities. What is being done to bring these children home, and why isn't the world paying more attention?
Sarah Makin, Visiting Fellow at Independent Women's Voice and former senior official in the Trump administration's National Security Council, joins Gary Marx on Peace & Power to discuss Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children, the fight to reunite families, and the latest developments in U.S. policy toward Russia and Ukraine.
Makin discusses her recent Newsmax op-ed, "A Year Later, 31 Children Are Not Enough, Mr. Putin," examining the efforts to secure the return of Ukrainian children and the role First Lady Melania Trump has played through quiet diplomacy. While acknowledging the importance of every child returned, she argues that far more must be done to reunite families and confront Russia's efforts to indoctrinate and assimilate abducted children.
The conversation highlights the work of Save Ukraine, an organization helping rescue children and provide the support they need after returning home. Makin also discusses her documentary project, A Faith Under Siege, including the short documentary Stolen Children, which follows efforts to bring Ukrainian children home.
Gary and Sarah then turn to recent developments involving President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, including a reported diesel arrangement that they fear could generate additional revenue for Russia's war effort. They examine the potential consequences for Ukraine, questions surrounding sanctions enforcement, and the competing diplomatic considerations influencing U.S. policy.
Drawing on her experience in the White House, Makin discusses the challenges of presidential decision-making, the influence of competing advisers, and the importance of maintaining pressure on governments responsible for human rights abuses.
Finally, the conversation explores international religious freedom, President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with the Pope, and the role religious leaders can play in defending persecuted communities in Ukraine and around the world.
From the plight of abducted children to the difficult choices facing American policymakers, this episode examines the human consequences of Russia's war and the continuing struggle for peace, justice, and religious freedom.
00:00 - Introduction and Sarah Makin
01:49 - Russia's Abduction of Ukrainian Children
05:32 - Melania Trump's Efforts to Bring Children Home
09:27 - Save Ukraine and the Stolen Children Documentary
15:54 - Russia's Indoctrination of Ukrainian Children
17:55 - Trump's Russia Diesel Deal and Ukraine Sanctions
22:00 - White House Decision-Making and Diplomacy
26:21 - Religious Freedom and Zelensky's Meeting with the Pope
30:05 - Closing Thoughts