The Liberal Democrats are calling on the UK government to financially support a US-led initiative tracking Ukrainian children reportedly taken to Russia, after American funding for the project was withdrawn. The appeal coincides with the party’s spring conference, where discussions are expected to focus heavily on the impact of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Calum Miller, the Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesperson, argued that UK backing for the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University would demonstrate a firmer stance against Trump, particularly regarding Ukraine.
Earlier this month, Yale University confirmed that funding for the lab—responsible for monitoring the estimated 20,000 Ukrainian children moved to Russia since the invasion—had been cut due to budget reductions introduced by the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, overseen by Elon Musk.
Miller plans to present a motion at the Lib Dem conference in Harrogate, expressing serious concerns about Trump’s leadership and advocating for stronger European coordination in response. He is also urging the UK government to allocate proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC, previously owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, to humanitarian efforts such as the child-tracing program.
“We believe that a portion of the Abramovich sale funds should be used to help stop the forced removal and indoctrination of Ukrainian children in Russia,” Miller told The Guardian. “Ensuring these children return to Ukraine and receive necessary support should be a priority within a wider humanitarian strategy.”
The Liberal Democrats are also calling for a faster process in using other frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Miller emphasized that such action is justified given Russia’s responsibility for the conflict. “These assets either belong to the Russian state or to individuals sanctioned for their role in this war,” he added.
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