Latest news with #abductions
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Donald Trump reportedly delivered letter from first lady to Vladimir Putin
Donald Trump hand-delivered a personal letter from first lady Melania Trump to Russian leader Vladimir Putin raising the plight of Ukrainian and Russian children caught in the middle of the ongoing war between the two European countries, it was reported on Saturday. Trump administration officials told Reuters the letter mentioned the abductions of children following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Putin was indicted by the international criminal court in 2023, and still faces arrest in 125 countries, for his alleged role in the war crime of abducting those children and transferring them from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. However, the text of the letter, which was obtained and posted online by Fox News on Saturday, is extremely opaque and makes no reference at all to the abductions or transfer of children from Russian-occupied Ukraine to Russia. 'Dear President Putin,' the letter begins. 'Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation's rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center. They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger. 'A simple yet profound concept, Mr. Putin, as I am sure you agree, is that each generation's descendants begin their lives with a purity—an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology,' the first lady writes. 'Yet in today's world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them—a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future.' Rather than appeal to Putin to return the children his government has seized to their home country, the letter vaguely implores the Russian president to 'restore their melodic laughter'. 'Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr. Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today,' Melania Trump's letter concludes. 'It is time.' Slovenian-born Melania Trump did not attend the peace summit between Trump and Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday. But she has previously said that her ambition as US first lady was to be akin to Eleanor Roosevelt, who was known for her work advocating for children's rights and welfare during Franklin D Roosevelt's presidency. Ukraine has called the abductions of tens of thousands of its children taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians a war crime that meets the United Nations treaty definition of genocide. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, conveyed his gratitude to the US first lady on his call with Trump on Saturday, Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said on Saturday. 'During the conversation, President Zelenskyy also conveyed his gratitude to first lady Melania Trump for her sincere attention and efforts to bring forcibly deported Ukrainian kids back,' Sybiha said on X. 'This is a true act of humanism.' Ahead of Friday's summit, the White House stated that Russia's abduction of more than 20,000 Ukrainian children 'remains a concern' for Trump seven months into his second presidency. Moscow has previously said it has been protecting vulnerable children from a war zone. The issue returned to the headlines earlier in August, when the non-governmental organization Save Ukraine accused Russia of 'state-sponsored child trafficking' after a group of administrators in Russia-controlled areas of Ukraine published an online catalogue of what they called Ukrainian orphans. Organization head Mykola Kuleba said the database from the Russia-installed administration's education ministry in the Luhansk region contains data on 294 Ukrainian children under the age of 17 who have been separated from their parents. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion Kuleba noted the website shows the names, photos, descriptions of personalities and hobbies of the children. 'Russia isn't even trying to hide it any more,' Kuleba said. 'It's openly trafficking Ukrainian children. 'The way they describe our children is no different from a slave catalogue. This is real child trafficking in the 21st century, which the world must stop.' After news of the first lady's letter was reported, the Bring Kids Back UA initiative expressed gratitude to Melania Trump for her concern. 'Deep gratitude to [the first lady] for caring so profoundly about the fate of Ukraine's children. Each word of support brings them closer to their families, communities and home,' it said. US lawmakers have demanded the return of Ukraine's children from Russia before any peace deal is agreed to and in July introduced a congressional resolution calling for their return. Led by Texas Republican congressman Michael McCaul and New York Democrat Gregory Meeks, the resolution condemns Russia's abduction, forcible transfer and facilitation of the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. A US Senate version was introduced by Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley and Amy Klobuchar, the Minnesota Democrat. Meeks said 'the Russian military has cruelly abducted and illegally deported tens of thousands of Ukrainian children from their homeland'. 'These atrocities are not isolated incidents,' Meeks said. 'They are the direct result of Putin's war of choice.'
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Donald Trump reportedly delivered letter from first lady to Vladimir Putin
Donald Trump hand-delivered a personal letter from first lady Melania Trump to Russian leader Vladimir Putin raising the plight of Ukrainian and Russian children caught in the middle of the ongoing war between the two European countries, it was reported on Saturday. The contents of the letter were unknown – but two Trump administration officials told Reuters that it mentioned the abductions of children resulting from the war that broke out after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Putin was indicted by the international criminal court in 2023, and still faces arrest in 125 countries, for his alleged role in the war crime of abducting those children and transferring them from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. Slovenian-born Melania Trump did not attend the peace summit between Trump and Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday. But she has previously said that her ambition as US first lady was to be akin to Eleanor Roosevelt, who was known for her work advocating for children's rights and welfare during Franklin D Roosevelt's presidency. Ukraine has called the abductions of tens of thousands of its children taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians a war crime that meets the United Nations treaty definition of genocide. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, conveyed his gratitude to the US first lady on his call with Trump on Saturday, Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said on Saturday. 'During the conversation, President Zelenskyy also conveyed his gratitude to first lady Melania Trump for her sincere attention and efforts to bring forcibly deported Ukrainian kids back,' Sybiha said on X. 'This is a true act of humanism.' Ahead of Friday's summit, the White House stated that Russia's abduction of more than 20,000 Ukrainian children 'remains a concern' for Trump seven months into his second presidency. Moscow has previously said it has been protecting vulnerable children from a war zone. The issue returned to the headlines earlier in August, when the non-governmental organization Save Ukraine accused Russia of 'state-sponsored child trafficking' after a group of administrators in Russia-controlled areas of Ukraine published an online catalogue of what they called Ukrainian orphans. Organization head Mykola Kuleba said the database from the Russia-installed administration's education ministry in the Luhansk region contains data on 294 Ukrainian children under the age of 17 who have been separated from their parents. Kuleba noted the website shows the names, photos, descriptions of personalities and hobbies of the children. 'Russia isn't even trying to hide it any more,' Kuleba said. 'It's openly trafficking Ukrainian children. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion 'The way they describe our children is no different from a slave catalogue. This is real child trafficking in the 21st century, which the world must stop.' After news of the first lady's letter was posted, the Bring Kids Back UA initiative expressed gratitude to Melania Trump for her concern. 'Deep gratitude to [the first lady] for caring so profoundly about the fate of Ukraine's children. Each word of support brings them closer to their families, communities and home,' it said. US lawmakers have demanded the return of Ukraine's children from Russia before any peace deal is agreed to and in July introduced a congressional resolution calling for their return. Led by Texas Republican congressman Michael McCaul and New York Democrat Gregory Meeks, the resolution condemns Russia's abduction, forcible transfer and facilitation of the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. A US Senate version was introduced by Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley and Amy Klobuchar, the Minnesota Democrat. Meeks said 'the Russian military has cruelly abducted and illegally deported tens of thousands of Ukrainian children from their homeland'. 'These atrocities are not isolated incidents,' Meeks said. 'They are the direct result of Putin's war of choice.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Dozens of kids missing in Virginia over just a few days - but police say not to worry
Dozens of kids have gone missing in Virginia over just a few days but police say the number is below average. Virginia State Police have been compelled to address several social media posts raising alarm about missing children across the state. 'Virginia State Police is not investigating any reports of mass abductions in Virginia, nor is there evidence of mass abductions occurring in Virginia,' VSP said in a recent news release. According to VSP data, last week there were 88 children reported missing to the Virginia Missing Children Clearinghouse, a center for missing child cases. This is below the 2025 weekly average of missing children in Virginia, which stands at 98 kids. State police said most missing children are runaways, and most of them 'return shortly after being reported missing.' Since January, 3,274 children have been reported missing to the clearinghouse, and as of Wednesday, 141 are still missing. State police explained Virginia reports more missing children than other states on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids website because it forwards every missing child case, instead of many other clearinghouses that post their cases to their own website. Virginia authorities also used two alert programs known as the CODI and Amber alerts. To activate a CODI Alert, the child's disappearance must be 'under suspicious circumstances or poses a credible threat as determined by law enforcement to the safety and health of the child,' state police explained. An Amber Alert is issued when authorities believe the child has been abducted and is 'in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death,' according to state police. This year, 25 CODI Alerts and two Amber Alerts were issued, and all of the children were found, the news release said. State police shared some tips for parents to keep their children safe. 'Make sure your child knows not to accept rides from strangers and not to trust a stranger who suggests they go off alone together for any reason,' authorities said. Parents should also never leave their child alone in the car, 'even for a minute,' and they should tell their children 'to let you know immediately if another adult suggests keeping secrets from you,' according to the news release.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Virginia State Police addresses viral social media videos regarding missing children
Virginia State Police is aware of multiple social media posts raising concerns about missing children across the Commonwealth of Virginia, according to a press release. Virginia State Police is not investigating any reports of mass abductions in Virginia, nor is there evidence of mass abductions occurring in Virginia, the release said. Virginia State Police oversees the Virginia Missing Children Clearinghouse (MCC) in addition to the alert programs (the CODI and Amber alerts are relevant here). The current list of all missing children in Virginia is located here: Missing Posters Search Results. Virginia has reported more missing children than other states on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids (NCMEC) website. This is because Virginia State Police forwards every missing child case to NCMEC. According to NCMEC, Virginia is the most pro-active in sending cases to their website. Virginia does this to centralize missing children's cases so they can all be reviewed in one location. Many other clearinghouses post their cases to their own website. In Virginia, the MCC uses NCMEC as the clearinghouse site. Nearly all missing children are investigated at the local level. When a child (under the age of 21) goes missing, investigating agencies have two hours to report it to Virginia State Police. If the agency believes it rises to the level of a CODI or Amber Alert, the agency makes the request. The criteria for those alerts are below: Criteria for the activation of the CODI Alert Each law enforcement agency shall investigate the matter to verify the disappearance, and eliminate alternative explanations where evidence is lacking. Information must be established to meet the definition of a missing or endangered child. Also, sufficient information must be available to disseminate to the public to assist in locating the missing child, to include a vehicle if there is one, in order to activate the alert. Elements for a missing or endangered child: Any person 17 years of age or younger or is currently enrolled in a secondary school in the Commonwealth. The child's whereabouts are unknown. The child's disappearance is under suspicious circumstances or poses a credible threat as determined by law enforcement to the safety and health of the child. Based on any other circumstances as deemed appropriate by the Virginia State Police. Criteria for the activation of the AMBER Alert Plan The abducted child must be 17 years of age or younger or currently enrolled in a secondary school in the Commonwealth, regardless of age, and the reporting law enforcement agency believes the child has been abducted (unwillingly taken from their environment without permission from the child's parent or legal guardian). The law enforcement agency believes the missing child is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death. A law enforcement investigation has taken place that verified the abduction or eliminated alternative explanations. Sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the child, suspect, and/or the suspect's vehicle. The child must be entered into the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) missing person files as soon as practical. If all of the aforementioned criteria are not met, the Virginia AMBER Alert Plan will not be activated. Most missing children reported are runaways Anecdotally, most of the children reported missing are runaways, and most return shortly after being reported missing, the state police said. Here is the data: Last week, Aug. 3-9, 88 children were reported missing to the MCC. The 2025 weekly average of missing children in Virginia is 98. Since January 2025 to current, a total of 3,274 children have been reported missing to the MCC. Of these, 141 (as of 10:30 a.m. Aug. 13) are still missing or approximately 4%. Virginia State Police has issued a total of 25 CODI Alerts in 2025 to date. All were found. This includes a CODI Alert the morning of Aug. 11, that was issued from Manassas Park, which was also cancelled that morning after the subject was found safe. Virginia State Police issued a total of two Amber Alerts in 2025 to date. All found. More: Wawa opening new Fishersville store Friday with ceremonies, giveaways, hoagie competition More: Three day Stuarts Draft Volunteer Fire Company Lawn Party returns Aug. 14 Virginia State Police offers the following safety tips to help keep children safe: Have your child practice making 9-1-1 calls from both a cell phone and a landline (unplugged or with batteries removed). Make sure your child knows not to accept rides from strangers and not to trust a stranger who suggests they go off alone together for any reason, for example, to find a lost puppy, etc. Tell your child to let you know immediately if another adult suggests keeping secrets from you. Never leave your child alone in the car, even for a minute. More information can also be located here: Missing Children Clearinghouse (MCC) – Virginia State Police. Anyone with information on a missing child can contact (804) 674-2000 or (804) 674-2026 after business hours. You can also email VAMissing@ The Virginia State Police encourages the public to visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website for the complete listing of photos and informational posters for Virginia's missing children. Any information you may have relating to these disappearances could be the tip needed in solving the case. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Virginia State Police addresses social media videos on missing children Solve the daily Crossword
The Herald
5 days ago
- The Herald
Man kidnapped in Holland Park in latest Bay abduction
As Nelson Mandela Bay continued to reel from a spate of abductions, another kidnapping took place in Gqeberha on Wednesday, police confirmed. 'The SA Police Service confirms that an investigation into a kidnapping reported on August 13 in Holland Park is actively under way,' police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg said on Wednesday evening. 'No ransom demand has been received at this stage.' The man had not yet been identified, nor had his age been released by the time of publication. Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact their nearest police station. The latest abduction comes just days after Theresa Minnie, 73, was snatched while backing her car out of the driveway of her home in Kariega. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, has taken over the probe into Minnie's kidnapping. This is a developing story. The Herald
