Melania Trump to greet Ukraine’s Zelenska at UN; brief encounter amid push to free abducted children

WASHINGTON — First Lady Melania Trump is expected to greet Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska at the United Nations on Tuesday in an informal moment that will not include a formal bilateral meeting, aides said. Zelenska has pressed for a meeting in New York to discuss Ukraine’s children and other humanitarian concerns, but there is no scheduled sit-down between the two leaders, according to a senior adviser to the first lady.

Marc Beckman, the adviser, said the greeting will be brief and cordial, with no substantive talks planned as both sides operate within a crowded UN schedule. The exchange comes as Zelenska has positioned herself as a leading advocate for the roughly 20,000 Ukrainian children who Ukrainian authorities say were abducted by Russia during the war. Zelenska’s outreach to the first lady is framed as a way to amplify pressure on Moscow through the long-running humanitarian issue.

Zelenska has repeatedly argued that children are among the most vulnerable victims of the war, with observers accusing Russia of abducting Ukrainian children and placing some for adoption or using others in military-related settings. The issue has drawn bipartisan attention in the United States: a recent measure introduced by a bipartisan group of senators would designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism for the reported abductions, underscoring the political dimension of the humanitarian crisis.

Melania Trump’s involvement in the issue underscores her public role on child welfare issues under her global initiatives, including the Fostering the Future Together program. She is slated to address the United Nations General Assembly later on Tuesday about how technology can help children around the world, an event her aides say will highlight efforts to expand access to digital tools and education. Her husband, President Donald Trump, spoke at the UN that morning with remarks that criticized globalism and migration patterns, while signaling support for a tougher stance on Moscow.

The Trump administration has kept lines open with Kyiv, and sources say the two leaders are likely to discuss ongoing efforts to end the war during separate meetings on the sidelines of the UN gathering. President Trump has also signaled willingness to pursue stronger secondary sanctions and tariff measures on Russia if allied partners back similar moves. Earlier this month, the two nations’ leaders had mended fences following their late-February clash.

As the day’s events unfold, the UN General Assembly serves as a platform for both the United States and Ukraine to press for support, with the conflict in Ukraine continuing to shape diplomatic and security calculations worldwide.