Melania Trump has confirmed that eight Ukrainian children, previously seized by Russian forces, have been reunited with their families. The first lady disclosed the development during a press briefing at the White House on Friday.
In August, Mrs Trump wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which her husband, President Donald Trump, hand-delivered during a meeting in Alaska. Putin responded, leading to what she described as an 'open channel of communication' on the children's welfare.
'We have agreed to cooperate with each other for the benefit of all people involved in this war,' Mrs Trump said. She added that the children were returned to their families within the past 24 hours.
The reunifications come amid ongoing international concern over Russia's forced transfer of Ukrainian children. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023, accusing him of war crimes related to the abductions.
President Trump, who had pledged to end the war in Ukraine within a day as a candidate, has recently expressed frustration over his inability to do so.
