Melania said that Putin spoke with her"directly" about the issue of repatriation of Ukrainian children who are in Russia.
- President Putin and I had an open conversation regarding the welfare of these children. In the past three months, both sides have engaged in several meetings and calls through secret channels, all in good faith. We agreed to cooperate with each other for the benefit of all the people involved in this war - said Melania.
She added that her representative has been working directly with President Putin's team to ensure the children are safely reunited with their families.
US researchers have identified more than 210 sites where Ukrainian children were taken for military training, drone production and other forced re-education by Russia as part of a large-scale deportation program.
Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for the release of Ukrainian children in Russia.
Zelensky said on Tuesday that the return of the children is a"priority".
- We have to return them to their families, their relatives - he said, announcing that"we are in the process of preparing for the resolution of the UN General Assembly condemning the kidnapping and deportation of Ukrainian children".
(Telegraph)
