The first lady has made the repatriation of Ukrainian children a priority, previously engaging directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Reuters news agency reported.
Some children had already been returned in earlier stages, with further reunifications planned, according to officials.
Ukraine says at least 19,000 of its children have been taken to Russia or Russian-controlled areas since the invasion in February 2022. Russia denies taking children against their will.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday expressed gratitude to "everybody who is helping" bring Ukrainian children home.
"Kids’ reunification with their loved ones is worth every effort and we continue working to bring all of our abducted children home," he wrote on X.
He thanked the US presidential couple for "constant attention to this important matter."
Zelensky also said Ukraine was grateful to the US Senate, which he said recently held a meeting on Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children.
"Thousands of our children still must be brought back and we count on broad international support to make it possible," Zelensky said.
The United States joined other nations at the UN General Assembly this week in calling for the immediate and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children taken from their families.
Ukraine welcomed the resolution.
A United Nations report released in October accused Russia of committing crimes against humanity by attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine with drones, and of committing war crimes through the forcible transfer of civilians.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of overseeing the unlawful deportation of children and the unlawful transfer of people from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.
The court also issued a warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights, who faced the same charges.
(mp/gs)
Source: Reuters, IAR, PAP
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