Trump Administration Temporarily Restores Funding for Ukraine Conflict Observatory

The reinstated funding ensures the transfer of evidence documenting over 30,000 abducted Ukrainian children to Europol, but the program's future remains uncertain.

The Trump administration has temporarily reinstated funding for the Ukraine Conflict Observatory after bipartisan pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups.
The observatory, led by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab, has documented the identities and locations of over 30,000 Ukrainian children allegedly abducted by Russia.
The short-term funding will allow the transfer of the program's evidence repository to Europol for use in prosecuting war crimes, including ICC cases against Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova.
The program was initially terminated in January 2025 as part of a broader review of foreign aid spending, raising concerns about the potential loss of critical evidence.
Advocates and international leaders are urging sustained support to ensure accountability and the eventual return of abducted children to Ukraine.