Washington: U.S. First Lady Melania Trump announced on Friday that some children caught up in the Ukraine conflict have been successfully reunited with their families, following her engagement in back-channel discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking from the White House, she emphasized that the effort to bring children home remains ongoing.
The First Lady revealed that she had established an open line of communication with President Putin after sending a letter earlier this year, resulting in multiple confidential meetings and calls aimed at securing the safe repatriation of affected children. “President Putin and I have had an open channel of communication about the welfare of these children,” she said, highlighting the continuous cooperation between representatives from both sides.
According to Melania Trump, eight children were returned to their families within the last 24 hours, with additional reunifications expected soon. She noted that her team is working directly with Russian authorities to ensure that the process continues smoothly and safely.
The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny over efforts to end the war in Ukraine, a campaign pledge that former President Trump had made during his candidacy. The First Lady’s initiative underscores the humanitarian dimension of the conflict, focusing on the welfare of the most vulnerable children separated from their families by the ongoing hostilities.
This development, while modest in scale, reflects a rare diplomatic channel aimed at mitigating the human toll of the conflict, even as broader efforts to resolve the war remain stalled. The U.S. administration continues to face pressure to accelerate peace efforts while ensuring the safety and reunification of displaced civilians.