The First Lady tries to stay out of politics. But not this time.
And now Melania Trump broke her silence and left jaws on the floor.
Melania Trump’s Diplomatic Efforts Yield Results
First Lady Melania Trump revealed on Friday that she facilitated the reunification of eight Ukrainian children with their families over the past day through her dedicated behind-the-scenes diplomacy, including maintaining direct lines with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“A child’s soul knows no borders,” the first lady stated at the start of her announcement in the White House grand foyer.
The children were part of thousands separated amid what Moscow termed “evacuation” actions in Ukraine, which amounted to coerced deportations.
Correspondence and Ongoing Communications
Melania Trump sent a letter to Putin on the matter, handed over during President Trump’s August 15 summit in Alaska with the Russian leader, and “much has unfolded since President Putin received my letter,” she noted.
Putin responded to her correspondence, and “since then President Putin and I have had an open channel of communication,” the Slovenia native and former model explained, mentioning “several back channel meetings and calls” that occurred.
“My representative has been working directly with President Putin’s team” to link children back with their families, Melania Trump added.
She raised the topic with Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, who heads Kyiv’s “Bring Back Kids” program for returning abducted children, in a 20-minute discussion during last month’s United Nations General Assembly sidelines.
In that exchange, Zelenska expressed appreciation for Melania’s work in aiding the return of Ukrainian children, according to Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US, Olha Stefanishyna, in an exclusive statement to The Post.
“What was important for Madame Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, was to give some words of gratitude to the first lady for her soft power and for her messages,” she said.
Challenges and Future Plans
Ukraine continues to face difficulties in tracking and bringing back children taken by Russian troops since the 2022 full-scale invasion, with many removed from schools, orphanages, or homes during occupation turmoil.
Officials in Kyiv report at least 19,500 children still missing, though the true figure may exceed that.
Melania Trump plans to persist with her involvement, as “plans are already underway” for additional family reunions.
