First Lady announces ‘good faith’ work with President Putin to ensure welfare and return of Ukrainian children
Mrs. Trump announced on Friday that she has been working with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ensure the well-being and welfare of Ukrainian children displaced in the war overseas
by Summer Lane | October 10, 2025
First Lady Melania Trump revealed on Friday that she has been working behind the scenes with Russian President Vladimir Putin in “good faith” to ensure that Ukrainian children who have been displaced in the Eastern European war can be returned home.
“A child’s soul knows no borders, no flags,” she said during remarks delivered at the White House Friday morning. “We must foster a future for our children…a world where dreams will be realized, rather than faded by war.”
She referenced a letter she had sent to President Putin in August, in which she called for a prioritization of the protection of children harmed by the bloody conflict overseas.
“[Putin] responded in writing, signaling a willingness to engage with me directly and outlining the details regarding Ukrainian children residing in Russia,” Mrs. Trump said.
She said she and President Putin have had “an open channel of communication regarding the welfare of these children,” and noted that for the past two months, “both sides have participated in several back-channel meetings and calls in good faith.”
Mrs. Trump said that both her team and President Putin have agreed to “cooperate with each other for the benefit of all people involved in this war.”
The ultimate goal is to ensure that each displaced Ukrainian child can communicate with and be reunited with their families.
“Eight children have been rejoined with their families during the past 24 hours,” the First Lady revealed.
She said that Russia had provided biographies and photographs of each displaced child, along with an overview of the social, medical, and psychological services afforded to each one. This information was verified by Ukrainian officials and backed up by the U.S. government.
Mrs. Trump said her ongoing mission on this front was “twofold”: to “optimize a transparent, free flow exchange” and to facilitate “regulate communication of children with their families until each individual returns home.”
She also noted that she had raised concerns with the Russian government about children who were minors at the time of their displacement, but who are now 18.
“Given the dangers of traversing this war-torn region, their safe return requires coordinated assistance. Accordingly, Russia has agreed to rejoin the individuals who have turned 18 within a short period of time,” Mrs. Trump stated.
The First Lady’s extraordinary efforts to protect the welfare of children caught up in the Eastern European conflict come amid her husband, President Donald Trump’s, hard work to bring the bloody war in Gaza to an end with an unprecedented peace deal.
“I hope peace will come soon – it can begin with our children,” she concluded.
