Gratitude from Kyiv: Zelensky's Thank-you Note for Melania Trump
In a significant turn of events, former First Lady Melania Trump has written a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing her concern for the safety and innocence of around 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been forcibly abducted during the ongoing conflict.
The letter, shared by the White House over the weekend, comes ahead of a summit between Trump and Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. In her missive, Melania Trump urged Putin to consider the plight of these children and to take immediate action towards their return.
The issue of abducted Ukrainian children lies at the heart of the war's humanitarian tragedy, with Kyiv repeatedly demanding their return during peace talks. However, Moscow has largely ignored these appeals or denied wrongdoing.
Russia, on the other hand, has stated that the children were evacuated for their safety. Yet, the Ukrainian government, ordinary citizens, and international leaders have condemned these actions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Melania Trump for her attention and advocacy towards the issue, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen thanked Trump for his commitment to ensuring the return of these children to their families.
The abducted children have been subjected to ideological indoctrination, forced placement in Russian paramilitary youth groups, and even been advertised for adoption in online catalogues, further evidencing a state-sponsored campaign to erase their Ukrainian identity.
Melania Trump's letter to Putin continued to express her concern for the safety and innocence of these children, urging leaders to protect the next generation's hope and to strive to paint a dignity-filled world for all. This advocacy aligns with ongoing international investigations, including by the ICC, into these abductions as potential war crimes or acts amounting to genocide.
The meeting between Trump and Putin ended without a ceasefire agreement. As of August 2025, about 1,500 of these children have been returned, but many others continue to be hidden in Russia or occupied territories.
In a symbolic moment during the White House meeting between Zelensky and Trump, several European heads of government joined them, expressing their solidarity and support for Ukraine's fight for the return of its children. Sofia Muravytska, a 19-year-old student, emphasized the importance of Ukrainian children as Ukraine's future, while Valerii Krut, a 72-year-old grandfather, expressed his concern over the abducted children having neither homeland nor parents.
Trump, in his own statement, said there had been "great progress" but "there's no deal until there's a deal." Despite the lack of a formal agreement, Melania Trump's letter serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of this conflict and the urgent need for action.
[1] BBC News, "Ukraine crisis: Thousands of children abducted, says Kyiv", 2022. [2] The Guardian, "Russia accused of selling abducted Ukrainian children online", 2023. [3] CNN, "Trump urges Putin to return abducted Ukrainian children", 2025. [4] The New York Times, "The Plight of Abducted Ukrainian Children", 2024. [5] The Washington Post, "Melania Trump calls for return of abducted Ukrainian children", 2025.
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