The letter, which President Donald Trump handed to Putin during their meeting in Alaska, calls on the Russian leader to safeguard "the next generation’s hope" and to end practices that have forced thousands of Ukrainian children from their homes.
"Dear President Putin, every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation’s rustic countryside or a magnificent city-centre. They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger," the first lady wrote, according to Fox News.
"As parents, it is our duty to nurture the next generation’s hope. As leaders, the responsibility to sustain our children extends beyond the comfort of a few," she added.
Melania Trump went on to say that "each generation’s descendants begin their lives with a purity – an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology," before urging Putin to act.
"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 wrote.
"Mr. Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter. In protecting the innocence of these children, you will do more than serve Russia alone – you serve humanity itself."
The first lady did not attend the Alaska summit. Born in Slovenia, she has often emphasised humanitarian issues during her time in the White House.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia has deported or forcibly transferred at least 19,500 children since its full-scale invasion began in 2022, though the real number may be significantly higher.
Kyiv says it has managed to return 1,458 children so far, while more than 1.5 million remain under Russian occupation.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russia’s children’s commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of war crimes over the illegal deportation of Ukrainian minors.
(ał)
Source: PAP, IAR, Fox News