Melinda Haring

Save your time and ignore the kabuki theater of “peace talks” on ending the Russian war on Ukraine. Russia is not going to stop the war until it achieves a Ukrainian surrender, and Ukraine is not anywhere near the point where it must surrender. All else is noise.

NEW: First Lady Melania Trump's office announces that she has "successfully united Russian and Ukrainian children with their families today" for the third time. "I appreciate that Russia and Ukraine are dedicated to bringing back the children who have been displaced because of the circumstances surrounding this conflict," Melania says. "Although all parties are cooperating and our communications remain robust, I urge Russia and Ukraine to intensify their efforts to ensure the safe return of every child to their families and guardians.” FLOTUS and her team are in ongoing discussions with both countries and she says she has "no doubt more progress will come.”

❗ Number of victims from Russia’s missile strike on Dnipro has risen to 40. Chief doctor of Mechnikov Hospital Serhiy Rizhenko: “Many have at least 10 wounds on their bodies. Dozens in critical and extremely severe condition. Many women. We’re used to seeing men, but women’s bodies with torn-off arms and legs, blown-out eyes… At least ten wounds on every body. Many couldn’t breathe — put on ventilators. All surgeons and anesthesiologists of Mechnikov Hospital are in operating rooms right now, saving the lives of ordinary Dnipro residents.”

Starting today, Oksana Markarova will continue supporting our state as my Advisor on Rebuilding and Investments. We will certainly defend our independence and Ukraine’s right to be a sovereign European state. We are ensuring Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and, for almost four years now, to resist full-scale Russian aggression on a daily basis. Despite all challenges, we continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons, air defense systems, and sufficient resources for internal resilience. But beyond the fundamental goal of defending our independence and the daily work to ensure Ukraine’s survival, we have a long-term objective: to give Ukraine the capacity to rebuild after the fighting and restore normal economic development. This is a task for the Government of Ukraine, all our institutions, and Ukrainian business, and I believe that everyone who can help Ukraine in this effort should do so. I am glad that Oksana remains part of our state’s team, and her responsibilities will now include advising on issues that strengthen Ukraine, namely: improving the business climate, enhancing our state’s financial resilience, attracting investment, and planning reconstruction together with our strategic partners. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine!