BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) President Trump agreed this week at the NATO summit in Turkey to give Ukraine a production license to build its own Patriot missile interceptors for defense, a major request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
During the summit, Trump was asked if he had a deadline to reach a deal with Russia.
“No, I don’t have a deadline. You can’t have a deadline. You know it’s too much going on, but I think you’re going to have a deal,” Trump said.
The war in Ukraine has now lasted longer than World War One, and uncertainty remains about when the conflict could end.
20,000 teddy bears to mark Ukrainian children separated in war at Bakersfield event (KBAK/KBFX)
“First of all, this war is not over. Second, it’s taken countless lives on both sides,” said Mira Rubin of Shield of Freedom.
Rubin works with the Bring Back the Kids national tour, which has already made stops in Los Angeles and Sacramento.
During those stops, organizers set up an installation of 20,000 teddy bears representing the number of Ukrainian children who have been forcibly separated from their families during the conflict.
“They are going through indoctrination. Forced militarization. And many of them are thrown on the front line once they reach 18 and older. So, this is a genocide,” Rubin said.
The Bring Back the Kids tour is scheduled to come to Bakersfield on Saturday at the Kern County Administrative Building and will have a public viewing from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
20,000 teddy bears to mark Ukrainian children separated in war at Bakersfield event (KBAK/KBFX)
Volunteers are also needed to help set up the event.
Rubin said the issue extends beyond Ukraine.
“This is not just a Ukraine issue. I mean this Europe. This is a global issue. And this war has to be stopped as soon as possible to, you know, prevent the loss of lives,” Rubin said.
The event will be open to the public, and Rubin encouraged residents to attend and share what they see.
20,000 teddy bears to mark Ukrainian children separated in war at Bakersfield event (KBAK/KBFX)
“I’m really hoping that people in Bakersfield will come out to see it. They will take pictures. They will share it. They start conversations with their neighbors. With their friends,” Rubin said.