Melania Trump announced she opened a channel of talk with Putin and the efforts led by her office secured the release of eight Ukrainian children.

First Lady Melania Trump Friday made a rare announcement in which she said she opened a private channel of communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin since she wrote him a letter in August on the impact of the war on kids in Ukraine. Following months of private discussion between Russian officials and Melania’s office, Russia allowed eight Ukrainian children to reunite with their parents. Melania announced that these eight children were all returned to their families over the last 24 hours with a commitment that the two sides will continue to work toward reunifying additional children displaced as part of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.“This remains an ongoing effort,” Melania Trump said in a brief speech at the White House. “Plans are already underway to reunify more children in the immediate future. I hope peace will come soon. It can begin with our children.”In August, Melania received praise for writing a letter to Putin that Trump delivered to him. Melania, in the letter, urged Putin to consider the impact of the war on Ukrainian children. Putin responded to Melania Trump in writing, the first lady said Friday, offering details about the Ukrainian children in Russia and offering to talk directly about the issue.“Since then, President Putin and I have had an open channel of communication regarding the welfare of these children,” Melania Trump said. “We have agreed to cooperate with each other for the benefit of all people involved in this war.”“My ongoing mission is twofold: To optimize a transparent free-flow exchange of health-related information surrounding all children who have (fallen) victim to this war,” Melania said, “and to facilitate the regular reunification of children with their families until each individual returns home.”