Overview

• The U.S. first lady said eight Ukrainian children were repatriated in the past 24 hours through a direct line to Vladimir Putin.
• She said additional children will return in the coming weeks as part of the same effort.
• She said her letter to Putin, delivered by President Trump at the August summit in Alaska, prompted a personal reply expressing willingness to negotiate.
• She said U.S. and Russian diplomats arranged the exchange through confidential contacts.
• Russia faces accusations of unlawful transfers of Ukrainian minors, with the ICC issuing 2023 warrants and reports estimating more than 6,000 in re-education programs and roughly 20,000 deported or transferred.