Overview

• The first lady said eight children separated by the Russia–Ukraine war rejoined their families in the past 24 hours, including three displaced to Russia during fighting and five split across borders, with one girl returning from Ukraine to Russia.
• She said the contact began after she sent Putin a letter in August that President Trump hand-delivered at their Alaska summit, leading to written replies, an open channel, and several back‑channel meetings and calls.
• A representative for Melania Trump has been working directly with Putin’s team, and she said Russian officials shared biographies, photos, and information on social, medical, and psychological services for verified cases.
• According to the first lady, Russia agreed to facilitate returns for people displaced as minors who have since turned 18, with plans to process such cases in the near term.
• The announcement comes against allegations that thousands of Ukrainian children were transferred to Russia and an ICC arrest warrant for Putin, with Melania Trump saying the reunification effort is ongoing and more returns are planned.