Von der Leyen thanks Trump for raising issue of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia

She made the remarks at the White House at the start of an expanded-format meeting with Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO Secretary General, and other European leaders, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"I want to thank you also that you mentioned the thousands of Ukrainian children that have been abducted. And, as a mother and grandmother, every single child has to go back to its family. This should be one of our main priorities also in these negotiations, to make sure that the children come back to Ukraine, to their families," von der Leyen said.

She stressed that this is now "a very important moment," as European leaders have come to Washington as "friends and allies."

Von der Leyen also recalled the successful NATO summit in The Hague and the new trade agreement between the EU and the U.S., which she recently reached with the U.S. president.

"And now we are here to work together with you on a just and lasting peace for Ukraine," von der Leyen told Trump.

"Stop the killing. This is really our common interest - stop the killing. And indeed, it's very good to hear that we're working on the security guarantees, Article 5-like security guarantees. So important," she said.