Melania Wrote Letter to Putin About Ukrainian Children
At a summit in Alaska on Friday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump delivered a personal letter—not from himself, but from First Lady Melania Trump. According to two White House officials who spoke to Reuters, the letter addressed the issue of Ukrainian children taken by Russia amid its ongoing war in Ukraine. No further details about the contents of the note were released.
Russia claims it has relocated children from conflict zones for their safety. However, Ukraine accuses Moscow of forcibly abducting tens of thousands of its children—an act it considers genocidal under UN definitions. While the exact number remains unclear, the Institute for the Study of War reported in March that nearly 19,500 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia. The organization warned that the actual figure is likely much higher, as Russia often targets vulnerable children who lack advocates.
A March fact sheet from Yale School of Medicine supports these findings, stating that only about 1,200 children have been returned to Ukraine. The report accuses Russia of targeting orphans, disabled children, those from low-income families, and children of military personnel. It documents instances of abuse, restricted contact with families, and inadequate care. The report further alleges a systematic effort to sever these children from their Ukrainian identities through forced adoptions and “re-education” programs.
In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, charging him with war crimes for the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia—an accusation the Kremlin denounced as “outrageous and unacceptable.”
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