First lady Melania Trump wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin raising concerns over the plight of abducted children in Ukraine, White House officials revealed Friday.
President Trump hand-delivered the letter written by his Slovenian-born wife to his Russian counterpart during their high-stakes summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday.
Melania Trump raised the plight of children in Ukraine and Russia in a personal letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Getty Images
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin speaks during a joint press conference with President Donald Trump at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, on Aug. 15, 2025. APThough the contents of the letter are private, those with knowledge said it pertained to abductions of children resulting from the war in Ukraine.
The battle-torn nation claimed Russia has abducted tens of thousands of Ukrainian children and sent them to Russia or Russia-occupied territory without the consent of their families.
Russia has claimed it did so to protect children from warzone conditions.
The letter was the first lady’s second foray into foreign relations with the Eastern European world power.
People from U.S.-based nonprofit organization avaaz light candles beside teddy bear in Schuman Roundabout, the heart of the EU district on February 24, 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. Getty ImagesMelania helped convince her husband to ramp up military aid to Ukraine — and to get tough on Russia in dealings related to the prolonged war.
The president said his wife was among those who pointed out that the Russian dictator never keeps the promises he makes during phone calls the two leaders have over a peace deal.
“I go home, I tell the first lady, ‘You know, I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation.’ She said, ‘Oh, really? Another city was just hit,’” Trump told reporters last month.
Melania’s native country has had frosty relations with Russia since its invasion began in February 2022.
