WASHINGTON – First Lady Melania Trump announced Friday that eight children displaced by the Russia–Ukraine war have been reunited with their families, following months of back-channel talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Melania Trump revealed she had written to Putin in August, with the letter personally delivered by President Donald Trump during his summit with the Russian leader in Alaska. In her remarks from the White House’s Grand Foyer, she said Putin responded positively, opening “a channel of communication” focused on the welfare of children taken from Ukraine during the war.
“We have agreed to cooperate with each other for the benefit of all people involved in this war,” she said.
Over the past three months, representatives from both sides have engaged in multiple private meetings and calls aimed at reuniting displaced Ukrainian children with their families. One of Melania Trump’s representatives has worked directly with Putin’s team to coordinate safe returns.
The announcement comes as Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a broader peace deal between Russia and Ukraine have stalled, with the president expressing frustration over the lack of progress and his “disappointment” with Putin.
Russia’s mass transfer of Ukrainian children during its invasion has drawn global condemnation. In 2022, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of war crimes and personal responsibility for the abductions.
Friday’s development marks one of the few tangible outcomes of U.S.–Russia diplomatic engagement since the war began — albeit through the First Lady’s unofficial humanitarian channel rather than formal negotiations.