‘Subject at top of all lists’: Trump and EU’s von der Leyen call for return of missing children in Russia-Ukraine war; Melania appeals to Putin
US President Donald Trump and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Monday discussed the issue of missing children in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with both calling for action to reunite them with their families.The discussion came as First Lady Melania Trump recently wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing her concern about the suffering of children in the war.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the matter resonates strongly with his wife. “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!” he wrote.Trump added that Melania was deeply moved by the suffering of families. He said her letter to Putin was well received and reflected her hope for the conflict to end. “The First Lady felt very strongly. She watched the same thing I watched and you watched. I see things you don’t get to see, and it’s horrible. But she has a great love for children. She has a wonderful son that she loves, probably more than anybody, including me!” Trump said.Von der Leyen, in a post on X Tuesday, urged Russia to return abducted Ukrainian children and thanked Trump for his commitment.Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, also wrote a letter to Melania Trump expressing concern for the suffering of children and offering gratitude. Zelenskyy hand-delivered the letter to Donald Trump during their meeting on Monday“Thank you very much, Mr President, for your personal efforts to help solve this war. I also thank your wife, the First Lady of the United States, for sending a letter to Putin to discuss our children. Additionally, my wife has sent a letter to your wife. I also thank all the partners, France, the EU, Finland, the UK, and Germany for supporting us,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
