WASHINGTON — Melania Trump has reunited even more Russian and Ukrainian children with their families today, the First Lady’s office announced on Thursday.
The news marks the third time that the First Lady has helped to bring children back to their families after these children were separated due to the Russia and Ukraine war.
“I appreciate that Russia and Ukraine are dedicated to bringing back the children who have been displaced because of the circumstances surrounding this conflict,” Melania Trump said in a statement on Thursday. “Although all parties are cooperating and our communications remain robust, I urge Russia and Ukraine to intensify their efforts to ensure the safe return of every child to their families and guardians.”
“Today marks the third reunification since I have been working strategically with both nations,” she added. “I have no doubt more progress will come.”
The First Lady and her representative helping with the negotiations “continue to engage” in these conversations with both Russia and Ukraine.
In October, the First Lady revealed that she had been in frequent contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin as she sought to bring home children displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war, sharing at the time that she had reunited eight Ukrainian children with their families.
“President Putin and I have had an open channel of communication regarding the welfare of these children,” the first lady explained during a press conference at the White House, sharing that Putin responded to her August plea to help the children with his own letter, and willingly agreed to engage with her. “For the past few months, both sides have participated in several back channel meetings and calls, all in good faith.”
“Each child has lived in turmoil because of the war in Ukraine,” she said. “Three were separated from their parents and displaced to the Russian Federation because of frontline fighting. The other five were separated from family members across borders because of the conflict, including one young girl who has now been reunited from Ukraine to Russia.”
(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The First Lady has been unusually public-facing this year, partially due to the release of her documentary film, “Melania,” which premiered at the Kennedy Center with an elegant black and white soiree attended by top members of the president’s administration and many staff.
On February 4, the First Lady met with Keith and Aviva Siegel at the White House, where they had a private, sit-down conversation before bringing in the press. Hamas forcibly took the Siegels from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023, and held them hostage. The terrorist group held Aviva Siegel hostage for 51 days, and Keith Siegel for 484 days.
Hamas released Aviva Siegel during the first hostage deal in November 2023, then released her husband on February 1, 2025, during a ceasefire brokered by the president before he even took office. Keith Siegel’s release came after his wife met with both Donald Trump and Melania Trump.
One of these meetings, between Melania Trump and Aviva Siegel, was included in the first lady’s new film, “Melania.” The film showed footage of Melania Trump and Aviva Siegel sharing an emotional moment in Manhattan. Melania Trump hugs Siegel as she weeps into her shoulder, and the first lady promises to pray for her husband, who was still in captivity.
One of the final title cards in “Melania” states that the first lady “played a key role in securing the release of Keith Siegel after 484 days as a hostage in Gaza, just 12 days after the inauguration.” And the First Lady states in the film: “I will always use my influence and power to fight for those in need.”
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