8 Ukrainian Children Reunited With Families After Talks With Putin

First lady Melania Trump announced Friday that eight Ukrainian children separated during Russia's invasion have been reunited with their families after she established an open channel of communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking to reporters at the White House, she said the contacts followed a letter she wrote to Mr. Putin in August that President Trump delivered during a summit in Alaska, and that her representative and Russian officials had worked in recent weeks to secure the returns.

"Much has unfolded since President Putin received my letter," the first lady said, adding that Putin replied and that "we have agreed to cooperate with each other for the benefit of all people involved in this war." She said the reunifications took place within the past 24 hours and that plans are under way for further returns.

Melania Trump described multiple back-channel meetings and calls over the past three months and said Russian officials provided biographies and photographs of the children now reunited with their families, along with summaries of social, medical and psychological services they received while in Russia. She said the U.S. government had confirmed the...