Did Melania Trump Write to Putin About Protecting Ukrainian Children?

Kyiv, Aug 17 (NationPress) Andriy Yermak, who serves as the Chief of Staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed his gratitude towards Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States, for her appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the protection of abducted Ukrainian children.

In a social media post on Saturday, Yermak stated, "The repatriation of Ukrainian children taken by Russia must be a primary condition for any peace negotiations." He conveyed his appreciation for Melania Trump’s letter to Putin, urging him to "solely restore" the children's "joyful laughter".

According to the Ukraine Conflict Observatory, led by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab, over 35,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken during the ongoing war and relocated to more than 100 sites across Russia and territories under Russian control.

Melania Trump’s letter, which was delivered personally by US President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, called upon Putin to safeguard children and "foster hope for the forthcoming generation" amidst his ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

In her letter, dated August 15, she emphasized, "We must strive to create a world filled with dignity for everyone so that every individual can awaken to a state of peace, preserving the future. A simple yet profound notion, Mr. Putin, is that each generation's offspring begin their lives with a purity that transcends boundaries, governance, and ideology."

Melania Trump further asserted that Putin "can singlehandedly restore children’s 'melodic laughter'", adding, "In safeguarding the innocence of these children, you will serve not just Russia but humanity at large. Such a courageous idea surpasses all divisions, and you, Mr. Putin, have the capability to execute this vision with a single stroke of the pen. The time is now."

"Every child shares similar silent dreams, whether they are born in a tranquil countryside or a bustling city center. They dream of love, opportunity, and safety from harm," she wrote.

She concluded, "As parents, we have a responsibility to nurture the hope of the next generation. As leaders, our obligation to protect our children goes beyond the comfort of a select few."

A White House spokesperson confirmed that President Trump delivered the letter to Putin prior to their crucial summit in Alaska.

Although Melania Trump was absent from the meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, the discussions lasted nearly three hours between US and Russian officials.

Since the onset of the war in late February 2022, Russia has abducted thousands of Ukrainian children, forcibly relocating them to Russia, seeking to assign them Russian citizenship, and enrolling them in Russian schools.

The United Nations condemned Russia in March for the suffering inflicted upon Ukrainian children due to the prolonged conflict.

Russia has previously claimed it is protecting children from conflict zones.

According to a Ukrainian government tracker, over 19,000 children have been deported from Ukraine to Russia, with the actual figure likely being much higher.

Prior to the Trump-Putin summit, Zelensky informed reporters that Moscow has been obstructing discussions regarding the return of Ukrainian children.

Zelensky pointed out that while some transfers have occurred with the help of other nations, Ukraine has yet to reach a comprehensive agreement with Russia on this issue.

"This is why we aimed to resolve specific matters through this trilateral approach: ceasefire, a complete exchange, and the return of children," Zelensky stated.

"This arrangement benefits everyone: it benefits President Trump, the Russians incur no loss, and the Ukrainians also face no detriment. It is a fair compromise."