Zelensky lauds Melania Trump for highlighting abducted children in 'peace letter' to Putin
WASHINGTON, DC: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t just thank America for weapons, he also gave a shoutout to Melania Trump.
On Tuesday, Zelenskypraised the first lady for writing a “peace letter” to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky praises Melania Trump, Donald chimes in
Zelensky didn’t sugarcoat it. The abduction of kids, he said, is one of the war’s darkest chapters. “I want to thank @FLOTUS Melania Trump for her attention to one of the most painful and difficult issues of this war, the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia. We deeply appreciate her compassion and her letter to Putin,” Zelensky posted on X.
The Ukrainian leader continued, “This issue lies at the heart of the war’s humanitarian tragedy, our children, broken families, the pain of separation. At least 20,000 children were taken.”
He added that he personally gave Donald Trump a letter from Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, to pass along to Melania. “Her (Melania's) voice matters, and her care gives strength to this cause,” Zelensky said.
He stressed that Ukraine is still fighting to bring back kids, prisoners of war, and civilians trapped in Russia. Some of those detainees, he noted, have been behind bars since 2014.
“Thousands of people still need to be freed – and this is a part of making peace. We will work to negotiate all-for-all prisoners of war exchange, and we are grateful to have strong friends who help,” he said.
This comes just as President Trump himself spoke out on the issue. On Tuesday, he said he had discussed the “massive worldwide problem of missing children” with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
“Ursula von der Leyen, the distinguished and highly respected president of the European Commission, and I have been discussing the massive worldwide problem of missing children. This is, likewise, a big subject with my wife, Melania. It is a subject at the top of all lists, and the world will work together to solve it, hopefully bringing them home to their families!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Melania Trump's 'peace letter' to Putin
On August 15, Melania dropped her own “peace letter” to Putin, appealing directly to him about the kids.
"A simple yet profound concept, Mr Putin, as I am sure you agree, is that each generation's descendants begin their lives with a purity -- an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology," she wrote.
First Lady Melania Trump sends a powerful letter to Putin:
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 16, 2025
“Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation's rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center. They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger.”
“As parents, it… pic.twitter.com/AjbA3s9wKY
"In today's world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them -- a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future," she continued.
She said protecting the children "will do more than serve Russia alone" and “will serve humanity itself."
The FLOTUS concluded, "Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today. It is time."
European leaders descend on Washington in support of Zelensky
Zelensky’s thanks came right after his talks with Trump, who just days earlier had met face-to-face with Putin.
Meanwhile, a parade of European leaders also landed in Washington to back Ukraine and hash out post-war security guarantees.
The guest list included Zelensky, UK prime minister Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish president Alexander Stubb, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, and Ursula von der Leyen.
