Melania Trump says Putin responded to her pleas about Ukrainian children
First Lady Melania Trump said she responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s letter of concern about child victims of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Ukrainian children displaced by the war have been reunited with their families after an “open channel of communication” with Putin, he announced Friday.
The First Lady’s “peace letter” was hand-delivered to Putin during her visit to Alaska in August.
President Donald Trump shared part of the letter on social media. In the letter, the First Lady implores Putin to protect the children, writing that doing so would “do more than serve Russia alone” and would “serve humanity.”
“Eight children have been reunited with their families in the last 24 hours,” Mrs. Trump said, surrounded by American flags behind a podium at the White House.
“Every child lived in turmoil because of the war in Ukraine.”
Of the eight children, the First Lady said three separated from their families were displaced to Russia because of front-line fighting.
A teenage girl displaced by the conflict has now been extradited from Ukraine to Russia, Mrs. Trump said.
The children’s reunification with their families was facilitated by both Ukraine and Russia, the First Lady said, adding that she was given a detailed report with photographs and the “identities and circumstances” of each child.
He said the US government had “verified the facts”.
Mrs. Trump said she had “learned a lot about this issue” since her letter was first delivered to Putin. He said he responded in writing.
In her letter, the First Lady wrote: “Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart… They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger.”
The announcement marks a positive development in advocacy for children in the White House, which began during President Trump’s first term.
It launched the BE BEST initiative in January 2021, which the White House describes as an awareness campaign focused on the well-being of children worldwide.
Earlier this year, the First Lady led an effort to get Congress to pass a bill banning Revenge Porn called the Take It Down Act. He said after the bill was signed that it was “a powerful statement that we stand united in protecting the dignity, privacy and safety of our children.”
