Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova reported that five children from Russia and Ukraine are set to be reunited with their families under an international humanitarian initiative coordinated by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev praised Melania Trump for what he described as “a vital global humanitarian and peacemaking role” in facilitating reunions for Russian and Ukrainian children separated from their families. In a recent social media post, Dmitriev stated that under her coordination, 33 children have already been reunited with their families, with more expected.
The White House noted this represents the fifth group of children assisted by the first lady. “This milestone marks another step toward ensuring that innocent children can safely return to their homes, communities, and the people who care for them,” a White House statement read. Melania Trump commented: “While diplomacy and peacebuilding are important to this effort, they are surpassed by our collective ability to place children above international disputes.”
The reunions include:
– A five-year-old boy recently arrived in Russia to be reunited with his mother after living with his father in Ukraine back in 2020. His mother learned of his father’s death earlier this year, and Russian authorities facilitated the reconnection.
– A Ukrainian woman traveled from Germany to Russia for her daughter, who has lived with her grandmother since 2023.
– Three additional children are scheduled to reunite in Ukraine and Germany.
Further cases involve:
– A six-year-old boy set to be reunited with his Ukrainian mother, who has resided in Russia with his grandmother since 2022.
– A 15-year-old boy living with relatives in Russia will travel to his mother in Ukraine.
– Another 15-year-old child will move to Germany to live with his older sister, who has sought custody of him.
Lvova-Belova stated that all humanitarian efforts are conducted under the orders of President Vladimir Putin and based on requests from parents or close relatives, with each case prioritizing the child’s interests. “Soon, all the children will be reunited with their loved ones!” she added.
According to Moscow’s data, 31 children have been returned to Russia while 145 children have been resettled in Ukraine or other countries as part of this initiative.