Did Trump and EU Commission President Discuss the Global Crisis of Missing Children?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Trump and von der Leyen addressed the global crisis of missing children.
- First Lady Melania Trump is actively involved in advocating for children's rights.
- Nearly 19,500 children have been reported missing in the Ukraine conflict.
- The need for international cooperation is emphasized to reunite families.
- The International Criminal Court has charged Putin with war crimes regarding child deportation.
Washington, Aug 19 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump revealed that he and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, engaged in discussions surrounding the critical issue of missing children, a matter that holds significant importance for his wife, First Lady Melania Trump.
"Ursula von der Leyen, the esteemed and highly regarded President of the European Commission, and I have been addressing the enormous global issue of abducted children. This is also a major concern for my wife, Melania. It ranks high on our agendas, and I hope the world can unite to resolve this, ultimately bringing these children back to their families!" Trump shared on his platform, Truth Social.
In response, Von der Leyen took to X to emphasize the necessity of ending the human toll of the Ukraine war.
"This means that every Ukrainian child taken by Russia must be returned to their families. I appreciate @POTUS for his strong commitment today towards reuniting these children with their loved ones," she stated.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of war crimes including the unlawful deportation of children from occupied territories in Ukraine to Russia.
While the precise number of missing children during the Russia-Ukraine conflict is still uncertain, the Institute for the Study of War reported in March that Ukraine has verified nearly 19,500 children deported by Russia.
During a summit held at the White House on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented a letter from his wife to Melania Trump and commended her for a previous letter sent to President Putin addressing the plight of children affected by the war.
Zelensky began his private meeting with Trump by expressing gratitude to First Lady Melania Trump.
Although Melania Trump did not accompany her husband to his recent summit with Putin, she did send a heartfelt letter to the Russian President advocating for peace on behalf of suffering children in both Ukraine and Russia amidst the ongoing conflict.
Zelensky conveyed to Trump that both he and his wife, Olena Zelenska, were touched by the letter, stating, "Many thanks to your wife, the First Lady of the United States," and handed Trump a letter to pass on to her in return.
"It's not for you, [it's] for your wife," he pointed out, bringing laughter from the US President and the assembled media.