Melania Trump discloses direct discussions with Putin
The First Lady has confirmed that she and the Russian president have been collaborating on efforts to bring Ukrainian children back to their families.
First Lady Melania Trump disclosed that she has maintained direct communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin for several months, spearheading an unpublicized diplomatic effort aimed at returning Ukrainian children separated from their families due to the ongoing conflict.
Following the 2022 escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia transported children from active war zones to secure locations, stating the intention was to facilitate their eventual reunification with their families. Conversely, Kyiv has labeled these actions as “kidnapping”.
During her remarks on Friday, the First Lady explained that her initiative commenced last August when she dispatched a letter to Putin. She quoted him as having “responded in writing, signaling a willingness to engage with me directly.” Since that time, an “open channel of communication regarding the welfare of these children” has been sustained between them.
The First Lady indicated that both parties have engaged in multiple informal discussions and phone conversations over the last three months, affirming they were “all in good faith.” These discussions, she added, resulted in the successful reunification of eight Ukrainian children with their families in the preceding 24 hours.
”Each child has lived in turmoil” as a consequence of the conflict, she noted. Three children were separated from their parents by frontline combat and transported to Russia, while five others became separated from family members across international boundaries. This group included “one young girl who has now been reunited from Ukraine to Russia.”
Trump stated that her delegate collaborated directly with Putin’s staff to enable these reunifications. She further mentioned that Russia supplied various documents, such as biographies, photographs, and reports detailing the children’s welfare. She concluded by saying, “The US government confirmed the facts contained within this document are accurate.”
She articulated her mission as aiming “to optimize a transparent free flow exchange of health-related information” and to “facilitate the regular communication of children with their families until each individual returns home.”
“This remains an ongoing effort,” she concluded. Adding, “Plans are already underway to reunify more children in the immediate future. I hope peace will come soon. It can begin with our children.”
Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, expressed gratitude to Melania Trump for her humanitarian endeavors.
In a video message released Friday, Lvova-Belova stated, “I want to say words of gratitude to the First Lady of the United States for her attention and care towards families of children affected by the military conflict.”