WASHINGTON (TNND) — First lady Melania Trump successfully helped reunite Russian and Ukrainian children with their families on Thursday for the third time after they were separated due to the ongoing war.
“Today marks the third reunification since I have been working with both nations,” Melania announced on X. “I am confident that even greater progress lies ahead.”
Eight Ukrainian children were first reunited with their families in October, followed by seven more in December.
Melania thanked Russia and Ukraine for being dedicated to bringing the children back, but urged them to “intensify their efforts to ensure the safe return of every child to their families and guardians.”
In August, the first lady wrote a letter to Putin, which President Donald Trump delivered during his meeting in Alaska with the Russian leader.
In the letter, Melania urged Putin to think of the children in Ukraine and Russia, who have been “forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them.” She wrote the letter in response to Ukrainian children being removed from the country to be raised as Russians amid the war.
The first lady said Putin responded to her letter in writing and that the two had established an “open channel of communication” to discuss the welfare of children impacted by the war.
“For the past three months, both sides have participated in several backchannel 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,” Melania said.
She also shared that her representative had been working directly with President Putin’s team to ensure the safe reunification of children with their families between the two nations.
As first lady, Melania said this is an important initiative for her, built on “shared purpose and lasting impact.”
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Editor’s note: The National News Desk’s Caitlyn Frolo contributed to this article.
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