First lady Melania Trump announced on Friday that eight Ukrainian children displaced during the country's ongoing war with Russia had been reunited with their families.
"Each child has lived in turmoil because of the war in Ukraine. Three were separated from their parents and displaced to the Russian Federation because of frontline fighting. The other five were separated from family members across borders because of the conflict, including one young girl who has now been reunited from Ukraine to Russia," Melania Trump said.
The first lady added that some minors who were displaced during the war have since reached adulthood and are residing in Russia, but their safe return home requires "coordinated assistance."
UKRAINE'S STOLEN CHILDREN CRISIS LOOMS LARGE AS NATO MEETS ON RUSSIA'S WAR
"My ongoing mission is twofold: to prioritize and optimize a transparent, free flow of health-related information surrounding all children who have [fallen] victim to this war, and to facilitate the reunification of children with their families until each individual returns home," Trump said.
The first lady stressed that this is part of an ongoing process and that plans are already underway to reunify more children with their families.
"A child's soul knows no borders, no flags. We must foster a future for our children which is rich with potential, security and complete with free will. A world where dreams will be realized rather than faded by war," Trump said.
TRUMP PRAISES MELANIA'S 'BEAUTIFUL NOTE' TO PUTIN, SAYS ZELENSKYY BROUGHT LETTER FROM WIFE TO FIRST LADY
In August, Trump wrote a "peace letter" to Russian President Vladimir Putin telling him "it is time" to protect children and future generations around the globe.
"As parents, it is our duty to nurture the next generation's hope. As leaders, the responsibility to sustain our children extends beyond the comfort of a few. Undeniably, we must strive to paint a dignity-filled world for all - so that every soul may wake to peace, and so that the future itself is perfectly guarded," Trump wrote in the letter, which was obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital.
"In protecting the innocence of these children, you will do more than serve Russia alone - you serve humanity itself," she continued. "Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr. Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today."
The first lady gave the letter to President Donald Trump and had him hand-deliver it to Putin during their high-stakes summit in Alaska.
Trump said on Friday that Putin responded to her letter in writing and expressed a willingness to engage with her directly, as well as outlining details regarding Ukrainian children residing in Russia. The first lady said that she and Putin had an "open channel of communication regarding the welfare of these children" since she wrote the letter. She went on to say that both sides participated in meetings and calls "in good faith."
"My representative has been working directly with President Putin's team to ensure the safe ramification of children with their families between Russia and Ukraine," she said.
SENS KLOBUCHAR AND GRASSLEY: AMERICA CAN'T IGNORE RUSSIA KIDNAPPING UKRAINIAN CHILDREN
On Friday, in a joint announcement, Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said the Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act passed the Senate as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The act follows a bipartisan resolution that the senators led in May which condemned Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children.
"The Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act would increase support for Ukraine's efforts to investigate and track the more than 19,000 Ukrainian children who have been abducted during Putin's brutal invasion, assist with the rehabilitation and reintegration of children who are returned, and provide justice and accountability for perpetrators of these abductions," the joint statement read.
The joint statement says that there have been at least 19,546 confirmed reports of unlawful deportations and forced transfers of Ukrainian children to Russia, Belarus or Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine. Additionally, the senators stated that as of Oct. 9, just 1,600 abducted children were returned thanks to the efforts of Ukraine and its partners.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
