First Lady Melania Trump disclosed on Friday that she has maintained an “open channel of communication” with Russian President Vladimir Putin to address the plight of children affected by the Russia-Ukraine war.
During remarks from the White House’s Grand Foyer, Trump stated that she and Putin have cooperated “for the benefit of all people involved in this war.” She highlighted that eight children had been reunited with their families within the past 24 hours.
Trump revealed that she sent a letter to Putin urging action to protect Ukrainian children, which was delivered by her husband, former President Donald Trump, during his August meeting with Putin in Alaska. She noted that Putin responded with a written message expressing willingness to engage directly and provide details about Ukrainian children in Russia.
The first lady emphasized that her representative has been working with Putin’s team to facilitate the reunification of displaced children. She described receiving a “detailed report” on the recent family separations and confirmed that U.S. authorities verified the information.
Trump framed the initiative as a mission rooted in shared purpose, stating, “A child’s soul knows no borders, no flags.” She added that efforts to reunite more children are “underway.”
Previously, Donald Trump disclosed that Melania had pressured him to adopt a tougher stance toward Putin during their discussions about the war. The former president cited her skepticism of his optimistic assessments following calls with the Russian leader as a factor in his decision to increase military support for Ukraine.