First Lady Melania Trump revealed on Friday she has been speaking directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the past few months, about the wellbeing of the children in Europe torn away from their families during the war in Ukraine.
‘President Putin and I have had an open channel of communication regarding the welfare of these children,’ she announced from the White House, saying that ‘eight children have been reunited with their families in the past 24 hours.’
‘For the past three months, both sides have participated in several back-channel meeting 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, who grew up in the shadow of Russia’s dictatorship, explained that she has been in talks with Putin’s representative about all the children suffering as a result of this war.
‘Much has unfolded since Putin received my letter,’ she said, referring to a note President Trump hand-delivered to Putin during their August summit in Alaska stating ‘it is time’ to ‘protect the innocence of these children.’
‘Since then, President Putin and I have had an open channel on the welfare of these children.’
‘Each of these children has lived through the trauma of war,’ the First Lady said. ‘Three were separated from their parents and displaced to the Russian Federation due to frontline fighting. The other five were separated across international borders because of the ongoing conflict. One young girl, in particular, has now been reunited with her family after traveling from Ukraine to Russia.’
Melania says she has worked primarily to establish an open line of communication, which is key to getting these children reunited with their families
First Lady Melania Trump said Friday she has been speaking with Putin about the wellbeing of children torn away from their families during the Ukrainian war
‘Eight children have been reunited with their families in the past 24 hours,’ she announced from the White House
President Putin and President Trump meet at the highly-anticipated summit in Alaska
Melania expressed all the advancements she has made so far, in her quick five minute speech, taking no questions before she left
Through close coordination with the Russian Federation, she received detailed biographies and photographs of each child involved in this week’s verification.
The documents also included an overview of the social, medical and psychological services being provided to these children.
‘I am encouraged by the transparency shown by the Russian Federation,’ Melania stated. ‘They have demonstrated a willingness to disclose objective, detailed information reflective of the current situation. This kind of cooperation is essential if we are to bring lasting results to the lives of these children.’
Melania explained that a comprehensive report verifying the identities and experiences of these eight children was jointly issued by the Ukrainian Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of the Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights.
The report has been reviewed and confirmed by the United States government.
Melania also raised concerns about those who were minors when they were displaced but have since reached adulthood while residing in the Russian Federation.
‘Given the dangers of navigating a region still affected by war, the safe return of these individuals requires coordinated assistance,’ she said.
In response to her advocacy, the Russian Federation has agreed to begin facilitating the return of young adults who have turned 18, within a short period of time.
‘This is an ongoing effort,’ Melania affirmed. ‘Plans are already in motion to reunify more children in the immediate future. Every child deserves the comfort of family and the hope of a peaceful tomorrow.’
Melania expressed all the advancements she has made so far, in her quick five minute speech, taking no questions before she left.
Melania Trump was born Melanija Knavs in Sevnica, a small town in the former Yugoslavia, now Slovenia. She grew up during the Cold War era under a communist regime. Like many families living in countries close to the Iron Curtain, Melania has said she understands the restraints of a controlled society.
Talks between Trump and Putin appear to have stalled since the world watched eagerly as the two world leaders met in Alaska on August 15.
In a summit billed as a potential turning point, the meeting ended without any concrete agreement, though both leaders issued optimistic statements.
Putin insisted that a lasting ceasefire would require eliminating the ‘primary causes’ of the conflict, while Trump said many points were ‘agreed to’ but acknowledged a ‘significant’ sticking point remained.
