Melania sends Putin personal letter criticising child abductions

Trump and Putin hold joint press conference after Alaska summit discussions on Ukraine war (Illustrative image) (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Getty Images

First Lady Melania Trump wrote a deeply personal letter to Vladimir Putin criticising the forced abduction of Ukrainian children, which Donald Trump hand-delivered during their Alaska summit. The Slovenian-born First Lady, who did not attend the meeting, ensured her humanitarian concerns reached the Russian leader directly through her husband.

Officials confirmed the letter specifically addressed the systematic seizure of Ukrainian children, though they declined to reveal further details of its contents. The existence of Melania's diplomatic intervention had not been previously reported.

Children as weapons of war

Ukraine has documented nearly 20,000 children abducted by Russian forces and taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without parental consent. The real number is believed to be far higher, with estimates suggesting as many as 300,000 children may have been taken.

Russia published an online database featuring 294 Ukrainian children available for adoption, complete with photos, ages, and personality descriptions like "obedient" and "calm". Critics have condemned the system as facilitating what amounts to child trafficking under the guise of protecting children from war zones.

Putin faces arrest in 125 countries due to an International Criminal Court indictment for war crimes specifically related to the Ukrainian children abductions. The United Nations Human Rights Office has documented how Russia inflicted suffering on millions of Ukrainian children since its full-scale invasion began in 2022.

Summit fails to deliver ceasefire

Trump and Putin met for nearly three hours at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage without reaching the ceasefire agreement Trump had demanded. Both leaders admitted significant work remained after their discussions concluded.

"We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to," Trump said aboard Air Force One. "We didn't get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there."

Putin demanded Ukraine withdraw completely from Donetsk and Luhansk regions as a precondition for ending the war. The Russian leader made no immediate concessions despite Trump's previous threats of severe consequences.

Strategic shift in US approach

Trump signalled a fundamental change in American strategy, abandoning demands for an immediate ceasefire in favour of pursuing a direct peace settlement. The approach represents a departure from Ukraine and European allies' previous insistence on ceasefire first, then negotiations.

Discussions reportedly included potential land swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine, with proposals that Ukraine forgo NATO membership in exchange for NATO-style protections. European analysts have described such arrangements as "deeply disturbing" and a clear diplomatic victory for Putin.

Melania's growing influence

Trump has increasingly credited his wife with shaping his more critical stance toward Putin's continued attacks on Ukrainian civilians. "I tell the first lady I spoke with Vladimir today, we had a wonderful conversation," Trump explained. "She says: 'Oh really, another city was just hit.'"

Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet Trump at the White House on Monday, with European leaders invited to participate. The meeting will likely address concerns about territorial concessions and security arrangements that have left European allies questioning America's commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty.

Sources used: "PA Media", "Daily Mail", "The Guardian", "The i" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.