U.S. First Lady Melania Trump says President Vladimir Putin has responded to her August letter and revealed that eight Ukrainian children will be reunited with their families.
Eight Children Reunited With Families
Many things have unfolded since President Putin received my August letter. He replied in writing, indicating his willingness to cooperate directly with me and presenting details concerning Ukrainian children living in Russia. Since then, President Putin and I have maintained an open channel of communication regarding the welfare of those children, Melania Trump said in a Friday statement.
Over the past three months, the situation has seen several informal meetings and telephone discussions. My representative worked directly with President Putin’s team to ensure a secure reunion of the children with their families across Russia and Ukraine. In fact, eight children have already been reunited with their families within the past 24 hours.
First Lady on Cooperation With Russia
The Russian Federation has supplied biographies and photos of each child involved in the reunions, together with an overview of social, medical and psychological services provided to Ukrainian children, Melania Trump emphasized.
She also expressed concerns about those who were minors when displaced by the war but have since reached adulthood and are living in Russia. Considering the dangers of traveling through the conflict zone, their safe return requires coordinated assistance. Accordingly, Russia has agreed to expedite the return of those over 18. Work is already underway to bring a larger number of Ukrainian children back to their families.
Melania Trump’s Letter to Putin
In her August letter to Vladimir Putin, Melania Trump wrote that every child carries the same quiet dreams in their hearts—whether born in a distant village or in an urban center—dreams of love, opportunity, and safety. She added that in today’s world, some children are forced to laugh silently in the face of forces that could seize control of their future.
“Mr. Putin, you can restore their melodic laughter. By protecting the innocence of these children, you will do more than serve Russia—you will serve all of humanity,” the First Lady wrote. “Such a bold idea transcends all human divisions, and you are ready to realize this vision today, with a single stroke of the pen. The time has come,” she concluded.
Ukrainian Children Deported to Russia
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Russian child‑rights advocate Maria Lewiwi‑Białowa. According to the judges, there are “well‑grounded reasons” to hold Putin and Lewiwi‑Białowa criminally responsible for the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation and their subsequent placement for adoption. The report refers to at least several hundred children who had previously resided in Ukrainian orphanages.
“In Russia and the occupied territories—according to data from a Yale University expert team—around 35,000 Ukrainian children are considered missing. Some have been forcibly adopted, while others have ended up in orphanages or military facilities,” the East Studies Center reported in August.