First Lady Melania Trump announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to her letter expressing concern about the child victims of the Russia-Ukraine war. This announcement was made on a Friday, and Mrs. Trump indicated that there was an “open channel of communication” with Putin, leading to the recent reunification of Ukrainian children displaced by the conflict with their families.
The First Lady’s letter, described as a “peace letter,” was delivered to Putin during his visit to Alaska in August. President Donald Trump shared excerpts from the letter on social media, where Mrs. Trump urged Putin to protect children, asserting that such actions would benefit humanity broadly.
Reportedly, in a recent 24-hour period, eight children were reunited with their families. Three of these children had been separated and displaced to Russia as a result of front-line fighting. Additionally, a young girl displaced from Ukraine has returned from Russia, according to Mrs. Trump. The reunifications were facilitated through collaboration between Ukraine and Russia, and Mrs. Trump claimed to have received a detailed report on each child’s situation, with the U.S. government confirming these facts.
Mrs. Trump indicated that her perspective on the issue has evolved since her initial correspondence with Putin, who also replied in writing. In her letter, she reflected on the common dreams of children for love, safety, and possibility.
This development aligns with Mrs. Trump’s ongoing advocacy for children, a focus that began during her husband’s presidency. She launched the BE BEST initiative in January 2021, aimed at addressing children’s well-being worldwide. Earlier this year, she advocated for the Take It Down Act, aimed at banning revenge porn to protect children’s privacy and dignity.
According to Ukrainian officials, approximately 19,500 Ukrainian children have been deported or forcibly displaced to Russia and its occupied territories since February 2022, with only 1,605 having returned so far. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for alleged unlawful deportation of children, a claim that Russia denies, asserting it has acted to protect children in war zones.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj075gq5n81o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss