Zelensky, Trump and EU leaders meet at the White House for talks about Ukraine
Ukrainian President Zelenkie, Trump and the European leaders will meet in Washington on Monday to discuss ceasefires and peace efforts.
Ukrainian President Voldy Mie Zelensky handed a letter from her wife for Melania Trump and praised the American First Lady for her children’s defense during the Russian war with Ukraine.
The letter comes the day after it was revealed that Melania Trump had written to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who spoke generally about the need to protect children. The letter does not specifically mention Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government estimates that nearly 20,000 children have been illegally deported or transferred from Ukraine, and that Russia “also uses tactics such as taking children from orphanages, splitting families during the filtration process, creating unbearable living conditions in the occupied areas, and luring children from home or school.
“Thank you to my wife, the first lady in the United States,” Zelensky told President Trump on Monday, August 18th in an oval office. He handed Trump a white envelope that he said contained a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska.
“It’s not for you, it’s for your wife,” Zelensky said as Trump began to look into it.
“I want that,” Trump replied with a laugh.
Zelensky characterized Melania Trump’s letter as “about our children, our adducted children,” and he described it as a “sensitivity topic.”
The International Criminal Court has indicted Putin for illegal deportation and relocation of children.
“In today’s world, some children are forced to laugh quietly without touching the darkness around them. A quiet rebellion against the power that can potentially assert their future.” “Putin, you can recover their melodic laughs on your own.”
Addressing questions from reporters, Donald Trump said that Melania Trump loved his children very much and “seeing the same thing I saw and you saw.”
“She hates seeing this happen,” he said.
Contributed by: Sarah D. Wire and Francesca Chambers, USA Today
