Six more children reunited with Russian, Ukrainian families, US and Russia say


FILE PHOTO: U.S. first lady Melania Trump speaks during a pre-Valentine's day visit to the Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, U.S., February 11, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno/File Photo

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW, Feb 12 (Reuters) - ⁠Six more Russian and Ukrainian ⁠children are being reunited with their ‌families, Washington and Moscow said on Thursday, crediting efforts by U.S. first lady Melania Trump.

One ​child would return to ⁠Russia and five ⁠children would be reunited with their families in ⁠Ukraine, ‌Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, said ⁠in a post on Telegram.

The U.S. ​first lady ‌wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin ⁠in August ​about the plight of Ukrainian children separated from their families by war. ⁠Ukraine accuses Russia of abducting ​thousands of children, which Moscow denies.

The White House, in a separate statement, said ⁠discussions continue with both countries, noting that it was the third time the first lady had brokered such a ​repatriation.

Lvova-Belova, in her post ⁠on the messaging app, thanked Melania ​Trump for her "unwavering commitment ‌and active participation in ​reuniting children with their families."

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Daphne Psaledakis)

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