Melania Trump, the wife of U.S. President Donald Trump, announced the successful reunion of eight Ukrainian children with their families as a result of negotiations between her representatives and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Melania, this process became possible due to the establishment of an “open channel of communication” after she sent a letter to Putin in August.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Open Dialogue on the Return of Children
The First Lady of the United States was quoted by global news agencies, which noted that her representative is working directly with the Russian president’s team to ensure the safe return of Ukrainian children to their families. In a letter delivered to Putin during a meeting in Alaska, Melania emphasized the importance of returning the children, stating that every child has the right to a happy childhood, regardless of their birthplace. It was reported that in the last 24 hours, eight children returned home to Ukraine.
“In the last 24 hours, eight children have returned to their families,” said the First Lady of the United States.
Context: Initiatives for the Return of Children
Separately, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, informed that within the framework of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, a group of 23 Ukrainian children and teenagers, who were taken from temporarily occupied territories, has been rescued. International organizations and Ukraine have repeatedly stated that Russia is mass deporting Ukrainian children without the consent of their parents or guardians since the beginning of the full-scale war. At the same time, the Russian side insists that such actions were allegedly carried out to ensure the safety of children during hostilities, and returns occur only for those who have legal representatives.
In mid-August, it became known that Melania Trump personally reached out to Putin with a letter regarding the fate of Ukrainian children. Subsequently, Fox News published the text of this letter, in which Melania emphasized: “Every child has the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether they were born in a rural area or a wonderful metropolis.” She also noted that Putin could “bring back their joyful laughter.”