
US President Donald Trump handed Russian President Vladimir Putin a special item at their Alaska summit: a letter written by his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, pleading for the Russian leader to make peace in the name of children.
The First Lady鈥檚 office reposted a Fox 九一星空无限 article on X, formerly Twitter, containing the short letter, a day after Trump and Putin failed to find a breakthrough at their high-stakes meeting.
Putin read the 鈥減eace letter鈥 immediately after Trump handed it to him, while delegations from both sides looked on, according to Fox 九一星空无限.
鈥淚n today鈥檚 world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them,鈥 read the letter, which was signed by the First Lady and did not mention Ukraine by name.
鈥淢r Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter,鈥 it added. 鈥淚n protecting the innocence of these children, you will do more than serve Russia alone 鈥 you serve humanity itself.鈥
鈥淪uch a bold idea transcends all human division and you, Mr Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today,鈥 the letter read. 鈥淚t is time.鈥
In July, the US President had said that his wife, who was born in Slovenia, had helped change his thinking about Putin.
鈥淚 go home, I tell the First Lady, 鈥榶ou know, I spoke to Vladimir today, we had a wonderful conversation鈥,鈥 Trump said.
鈥淎nd she said, 鈥極h really? Another city was just hit.鈥欌
Trump attempted a rapprochement with Putin shortly after starting his second term, having campaigned on a pledge to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours.
- 鈥榃e didn鈥檛 get there鈥: No Ukraine ceasefire deal confirmed after Trump and Putin talks
- Trump shifts stance, pushes for full peace accord post-Putin summit
During the early months of his new term, he largely directed anger at Ukraine for the lack of a deal, but gradually began expressing frustration that Putin continued his attacks on Ukraine.
Before the summit in Alaska, Trump had warned of 鈥渟evere consequences鈥 if Russia did not accept a ceasefire.
However, after meeting with Putin, Trump dropped his demand for a ceasefire, saying the best way to end the war 鈥渋s to go directly to a peace agreement鈥.
Putin has long argued for negotiations on a final peace deal 鈥 a strategy that Ukraine and its European allies have criticised as a way to buy time and press Russia鈥檚 battlefield advances.
鈥 Agence France-Presse
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