First lady Melania Trump announced that eight children displaced by Russia’s war in Ukraine have been reunited with their families in the past 24 hours.
The first lady said she has been in “an open channel of communication” with Russian President Vladimir Putin after she sent a letter urging him to take action on protecting the children affected by the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump said he responded with a “willingness to engage,” and their subsequent communication led to the children’s return.
“Three were separated from their parents and displaced to the Russian Federation because of frontline fighting. The other five were separated from family members across borders because of the conflict, including one young girl, who has now been reunited from Ukraine to Russia,” she said.
The eight children were reunited with their respective families in Ukraine and Russia. Trump said the reunification effort of all displaced children in the conflict is ongoing and that Russia has agreed to return those to Ukraine who were displaced as children, but recently turned 18 years old.
“For the past three months, both sides have participated in several back channel meetings and calls, all in good faith. We have agreed to cooperate with each other for the benefit of all people involved in this war. My representative has been working directly with President Putin’s team to ensure the safe reunification of children with their families between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump continued.
During the friendly do-over meeting in August between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky gave Melania Trump a letter from his wife thanking her for her efforts in reunifying the children affected by the war with their parents.
MELANIA TRUMP PENS LETTER PLEADING FOR PEACE FROM PUTIN IN UKRAINE WAR
Zelensky’s many thanks to President Trump and high praise of the first lady’s efforts reportedly helped start the meeting on a positive note.
“Plans are already underway to reunify more children in the immediate future. I hope peace will come soon, it can begin with our children,” Melania Trump said.