‘Peace can begin with our children’: Melania Trump negotiates with Putin on reuniting Ukrainian children with families

US First Lady Melania Trump says she has been in contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation of Ukrainian children who were taken or separated from their families because of the war between Russia and Ukraine, The Hill writes.

Mrs Trump expressed hope that through negotiations with Putin, many of these children would be able to return to their families.

“I’m working on it, and we are in the process. I hope we have success very soon,” Trump told reporters.

She announced in August that she wrote to the Russian leader, raising concerns about children who had been separated from their families and were impacted by the conflict.

In October, the US first lady announced that eight Ukrainian children have been reunited with their families.

In addition, Trump said Russia had agreed to return those who were displaced during the war as minors but have since turned 18 “within a short period of time.”

“This remains an ongoing effort. Plans are already underway to reunify more children in the immediate future,” Trump said. “I hope peace will come soon. It can begin with our children.”