Washington: Throughout his Oval Workplace go to on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky handed President Donald Trump a letter of gratitude from Ukraine’s First Girl, Olena Zelenska, addressed to Melania Trump.
The letter expressed thanks for Melania’s efforts to lift consciousness concerning the roughly 19,500 Ukrainian youngsters that the Ukrainian authorities says have been kidnapped by Russia because the 2022 invasion.
Melania beforehand despatched a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to think about the well-being of youngsters. She had written, “In defending the innocence of those youngsters, you’ll do greater than serve Russia alone, you serve humanity.”
Whereas her observe didn’t identify particular youngsters, it highlighted the broader humanitarian concern.
Over the weekend, the White Home shared her letter on social media, the place she wrote, “Each little one desires of affection, risk and security from hazard. Mr. Putin, you possibly can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter.”
Requested concerning the letter on Monday, Trump mentioned his spouse “feels very strongly” about youngsters, “hates to see one thing like this taking place” and would really like the conflicts to finish.
He added, “She says it very brazenly, very proudly and with nice sorrow as a result of so many individuals have been killed.”
Zelensky praised Melania for her deal with “some of the painful and tough problems with this battle, the kidnapping of Ukrainian youngsters by Russia”, calling her compassion “deeply appreciated”. He continued, “This situation lies on the coronary heart of the battle’s humanitarian tragedy, our youngsters, damaged households and the ache of separation. Her voice issues, and her care provides energy to this trigger.”
The Ukrainian authorities studies that about 19,500 youngsters have been forcibly taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territories, with solely roughly 1,500 returned.
In 2023, the Worldwide Prison Court docket issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Russian Kids’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for alleged illegal deportation of youngsters.
Russia denies the costs, claiming the strikes have been for the youngsters’s security. The return of kidnapped youngsters is a key a part of Ukraine’s place in peace negotiations.
Following Monday’s White Home assembly with Zelensky, Trump and European leaders, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen emphasised on social media: “The human value of this battle should finish. And which means each single Ukrainian little one kidnapped by Russia have to be returned to their households.”
She additionally thanked Trump for his “clear dedication right now to making sure these youngsters are reunited with their family members”.