Trump personally delivered a letter from Melania to Putin
In a humanitarian gesture, former First Lady Melania Trump has reportedly written a personal letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, appealing for the protection of children, including those potentially affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine [1][2].
The letter, described as a "peace letter," was hand-delivered by former President Trump to Putin during their summit in Alaska in mid-August 2025. It emphasised the importance of protecting children's innocence and restoring their future, without explicitly mentioning Russia’s war or the abduction issue by name [1][2].
Ukrainian leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have expressed gratitude for this gesture. Zelensky supports diplomatic dialogue and a proposed trilateral meeting involving the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia to discuss ending the war [2]. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha acknowledged the letter as a “true act of humanism” [1].
However, the letter does not seem to have had a direct impact on the formal investigations into the abduction of Ukrainian children or on international legal proceedings against Russia related to alleged war crimes or genocide. The investigation into these matters continues, with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague having opened a case against representatives of Russia, involving allegations of abducting Ukrainian children [3].
The ICC pursues particularly serious crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ukraine has described the abduction of tens of thousands of its children to Russia or Russian-occupied territories without the consent of families or guardians as a war crime [4]. The UN Human Rights Office has also criticised the exposure of Ukrainian children in occupied areas to Russian war propaganda [5].
In early 2023, the Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner accused Russians of abducting Ukrainian children and selling them for sexual abuse [6]. Corresponding messages in online networks reveal that Russians are offering money for abducted Ukrainian children for sexual purposes [7].
It is crucial to note that neither Russia nor Ukraine are signatories to the ICC. The government in Kyiv is pushing for an international ad hoc tribunal [8]. Since Russia does not recognize the ICC, the court cannot prosecute Moscow for the crime of aggression [9].
The UN Human Rights Office has stated that Russia has inflicted millions of Ukrainian children with suffering and violated their rights since the war against Ukraine began in 2022 [10]. Military-patriotic training is taking place in schools and youth groups in occupied areas, which violates the obligation of an occupying power to respect the education and culture of the population [11].
References: 1. New York Times 2. ntv.de 3. ICC 4. UN Human Rights Office 5. Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner 6. Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner 7. UN Human Rights Office 8. Ukrainian government 9. ICC 10. UN Human Rights Office 11. UN Human Rights Office
- The European Union has a responsibility to ensure that its foreign policy, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, effectively address the protection of children, given the reported abduction of Ukrainian children and their exposure to war propaganda.
- In the context of general news, politics, war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and human rights, it is important for international organizations, such as the International Criminal Court, to continue investigating alleged war crimes and genocide committed against Ukrainian children, and for the Ukrainian government to push for an international ad hoc tribunal to bring those responsible to justice.
