Zelenskyy thanks Melania Trump for advocacy on ‘abduction of Ukrainian children’

“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. 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. I asked President Trump to pass along a letter of gratitude from Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, to Melania. Her voice matters, and her care gives strength to this cause,” The Ukrainian leader said in a post on X.

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.

This issue lies at the heart of the war’s… https://t.co/DHiGcUGydO

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2025

He further reaffirmed his commitment to freeing the prisoners of war and civilians held in Russia for years.

“We are working tirelessly to bring every child home. The same applies for our prisoners of war and civilians held in Russia for years, some since 2014, in very bad conditions. 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 added.

Zelenskyy’s remarks came in response to a post by US President Donald Trump where he said that he, along with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, have been discussing the “massive worldwide problem of missing children”.

He asserted that the issue was a priority and the world would work together to reunite them with their families.

“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 said in a post on his Truth Social handle.

Zelenskyy hands letter from the Ukrainian first lady to Trump

Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy presented Trump with a letter from Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska and told the US president that the letter was for FLOTUS.

“My wife, the first lady of Ukraine, she gave the letter. It’s not to you but to your wife,” he said.

Happening now in the Oval Office. WATCH ⬇️ https://t.co/ez9KWVupGj pic.twitter.com/W4rDiA67A9

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 18, 2025

A highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, along with other European leaders, concluded at the White House on Monday (Aug 18).

Describing the discussions as “very good”, the leaders indicated a possibility of a peace deal between the warring countries, Russia and Ukraine.

European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, flew to Washington to attend the meeting backing Zelenskyy, days after Trump hosted Putin in Alaska for a summit that failed to result in a ceasefire.

(With inputs from agencies)