US First Lady Melania Trump has written a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin calling for the protection of “children and future generations around the world.” Fox News reported that US President Donald Trump personally delivered the letter to Putin at the start of the historic summit in Anchorage, Alaska, marking the first face-to-face meeting between US and Russian leaders since June 2021.
Upon receiving the letter, Putin read it in the presence of the US and Russian delegations. “Every child shares the same silent dreams in their heart... they dream of love, possibility, and safety in the face of danger,” the first lady wrote, according to the text obtained by Fox News. Melania Trump urged world leaders to seek a future where all children are safe and called for “painting a world filled with dignity for all.”
The letter underscored the collective duty of parents and leaders to sustain hope and protect the innocence of future generations, noting that this commitment “goes beyond geography, government, and ideology.”
For the Slovenian-born American first lady, Putin could restore the “melodic laughter” of war-torn children and urged the Russian leader to seize the historic opportunity to make peace in Ukraine. “By protecting the innocence of these children, you will serve not only Russia, but all of humanity… the time has come,” she wrote.
The letter was delivered on the eve of a summit marked by negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has been raging for more than two years.
Speaking after his meeting with Putin, Donald Trump called the meeting “extremely productive,” though he admitted that a definitive agreement to end the conflict had not yet been reached. “There were a lot of points where we agreed, most of them I would say… but there are some big issues where we’re not there yet, although we’re making progress,” the White House leader told reporters.
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, announced a visit to Washington, D.C., to meet with Trump on Monday. “On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all the details of ending the war. I am grateful for the invitation,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
Trump's emphasis after the summit shifted from an immediate ceasefire, which had been his previous demand, to the pursuit of a comprehensive peace agreement. On the Truth Social network, Trump argued that"a simple ceasefire... often doesn't last," while acknowledging that he had warned Moscow of "serious consequences" if hostilities continued.
This shift favors Putin's preference for direct and definitive negotiations, as opposed to the concerns of kyiv and its European allies, who fear that Moscow will use the talks to consolidate its gains in Ukrainian territory."The sad reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war in the near future," declared Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief.
In Moscow, Putin called the summit with Trump “timely” and “very useful.” “The conversation was very frank, substantive, and, in my opinion, brings us closer to the necessary decisions,” the Russian president said, according to the Kremlin. Putin warned Ukraine and European countries to avoid “behind-the-scenes intrigues” that could hinder the “emerging progress” achieved in Alaska.
The diplomatic agenda now focuses on Zelensky's impending visit to the White House. Recalling his last visit, in February, highlights the tense tone with which he was received, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused him of not showing enough gratitude for US military aid since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
A diplomatic source cited by AFP said Trump raised the possibility of granting kyiv a security guarantee similar to NATO’s Article 5, which provides for mutual defense between members in the event of an attack, during their talks. According to The New York Times, Trump also expressed support for a proposal by Putin that Ukraine cede territories in exchange for peace, including full Russian control over two Ukrainian regions and a freeze in other partially occupied areas.
European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Friedrich Merz, held a video conference with Kyiv's allies to discuss the situation following the Alaska summit. They reiterated the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia through sanctions and economic measures"until a just and lasting peace is achieved." Macron warned of the possibility of Moscow reneging on its commitments, while Starmer stressed that peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Zelensky.
