At the Anchorage summit in Alaska, one moment stood out: Donald Trump handed Vladimir Putin a “peace message” attributed to his wife, Melania Trump. According to Fox News, the gesture was meant to bring a more “humanitarian” dimension to talks between the two leaders — discussions that ended without any concrete progress toward a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Melania Trump later reposted the Fox News article on X (formerly Twitter), confirming her involvement in this unusual diplomatic move. The First Lady, born in Slovenia, suddenly found herself propelled onto the global stage in the middle of a brutal war in Europe and mounting pressure on the Kremlin.
A symbolic letter with no mention of Ukraine
Fox News reported that the Russian president read the letter immediately after receiving it from Donald Trump. Yet the contents sparked debate: Ukraine was never mentioned. Instead, Melania Trump called on Putin to “make children laugh again”, to “protect their innocence”, and to “serve humanity” rather than only Russia.
This emotional appeal contrasted sharply with Donald Trump’s previous threats of “very severe consequences” if Moscow continued its offensive. But in Anchorage, the U.S. president shifted course: he abandoned his demand for a prior ceasefire and spoke instead of a vague “peace deal.” This dramatic reversal, paired with Melania’s symbolic intervention, signaled a diplomatic repositioning that left the European Union deeply skeptical. Brussels reiterated its stance: no easing of pressure without Russian withdrawal, and full support for Kyiv.
The timing was particularly striking. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over the illegal deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children from occupied territories. Against this backdrop, Melania Trump’s appeal for the protection of children echoed one of the gravest charges facing the Kremlin. But by leaving Ukraine unnamed, her message remained ambiguous and open to conflicting interpretations.
Melania Trump, a new face of “soft diplomacy”?
This was not the first time Donald Trump highlighted his wife’s influence on his perception of Putin. Back in July, he told reporters that after a “wonderful conversation” with the Russian leader, Melania reminded him that “meanwhile, another city had just been bombed in Ukraine.” Her sharp response suggested that the First Lady often takes a more critical and realistic stance than her husband on the war.
By showcasing a letter signed by his wife, is Donald Trump trying to soften his image and reposition U.S. diplomacy? The Anchorage episode fuels this hypothesis. Melania, long seen as a discreet First Lady, emerges here as a figure of “soft diplomacy”, delivering a message centered on humanity and the future of children.
Still, her intervention has drawn sharp criticism in Europe and among Kyiv’s allies, who dismissed it as a communications stunt with no tangible impact. For now, no ceasefire agreement has been reached, and Russia continues its offensives. Despite its humanitarian tone, Melania Trump’s letter has not shifted the Kremlin’s hard line.
Yet the episode highlights a growing trend: the use of family figures and emotional appeals in international diplomacy. By giving Melania Trump a visible role, the U.S. administration sought to inject a note of softness into a high-stakes confrontation. But for Europe and Ukraine, symbolic gestures cannot replace concrete commitments.