Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used his recent White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to deliver a handwritten message from his wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, to Melania Trump. In a lighthearted gesture, Zelensky handed over the letter while telling Trump, “It’s not to you, it’s to your wife.”

The moment came during a highly watched Oval Office encounter, just days after Trump’s Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin ended without a ceasefire deal in the ongoing Ukraine war. The exchange drew attention not only for its symbolism but also for the unusual backchannel it highlighted between the two first ladies.

Earlier, Melania Trump had penned her own letter to Vladimir Putin, calling on him to protect children caught in the conflict. In her words, every child carries the same quiet hopes for “love, possibility, and safety from danger,” and she urged the Russian leader to restore to them “their melodic laughter.” The letter, widely circulated, positioned her as an unexpected voice in international appeals around the war.

Olena Zelenska’s message to Melania Trump, delivered by her husband, expressed gratitude for that humanitarian stance. By addressing her counterpart directly, Zelenska emphasized her appreciation for Melania’s efforts to spotlight the suffering of Ukraine’s youngest and most vulnerable.

The exchange also underscored the broader crisis facing Ukraine’s children. Rights groups and Ukrainian authorities estimate that nearly 20,000 minors have been forcibly removed from the country, a move widely condemned as an attempt to strip them of their identity and heritage. The Bring Kids Back UA initiative has pushed to return them, with international organizations including the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe labeling the abductions a grave violation of human rights.

For Kyiv, the letter served as both a diplomatic gesture and a reminder of the human cost of the war. By engaging Melania Trump, Zelenska tapped into a different channel of influence—an emotional appeal framed around families and children—that stood apart from the political negotiations between leaders.

Bolivia’s August 17, 2025, presidential election has brought a dramatic political shift, ending nearly 20 years of leftist rule under the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party. For the first time in the country’s history, no candidate won outright in the first round, forcing a runoff scheduled for October 19 between centrist Senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira and former right-wing president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga.

Rodrigo Paz Pereira surprised many observers by finishing first with about 32% of the vote. His campaign leaned on themes of anti-corruption, grassroots outreach, and a vision of “capitalism for all,” which appealed to voters weary of economic struggles marked by high inflation, fuel shortages, and declining trust in institutions.

Quiroga, who took second place with around 27%, presented himself as a pro-business conservative favoring privatization, fiscal austerity, and renewed ties with global financial institutions.

The once-dominant MAS party suffered a severe collapse. Its candidate Eduardo del Castillo barely surpassed 3% of the vote, while another leftist figure, Andrónico Rodríguez, managed only about 8%. This fragmentation underscored the decline of a political force that had defined Bolivia for two decades.

Former president Evo Morales, barred from running, called on his followers to nullify their ballots in protest. That appeal led to a record 19% of votes being invalidated, surpassing the totals received by many candidates. Analysts see this as evidence of MAS’s weakening influence and internal divisions.

The election outcome signals widespread frustration with the political establishment and a demand for new leadership. The upcoming runoff between Paz and Quiroga represents not only a clash of two competing visions for Bolivia but also a historic break from the country’s long era of leftist dominance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are preparing for a potential peace summit, their first face-to-face encounter since the war began over three years ago. The development follows a series of high-level meetings in Washington, where Donald Trump hosted European leaders to discuss long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump, fresh from his meeting with Putin in Alaska, described his White House talks with European officials and Zelensky as “very good.” He revealed that he reached out to Putin afterward to begin arranging a direct meeting between the two leaders, though the timing and location are yet to be finalized.

Zelensky, speaking outside the White House, confirmed his readiness for such a dialogue. The Kremlin also indicated that Putin was open to direct talks. While the war remains largely stalled, with Russia making limited advances, the recent Trump-Putin discussions failed to secure an immediate ceasefire.

The White House gathering was notable for its strong European presence, with leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Commission, and NATO showing a united front. Zelensky described his Oval Office meeting with Trump as “the best” they’ve had, contrasting with their tense and publicly hostile encounter earlier this year.

A key focus of the talks was how to guarantee Ukraine’s security. Trump said European nations would coordinate with the U.S. to provide these assurances, but Kyiv would have to abandon its long-standing ambition of joining NATO. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called the meeting “very successful,” highlighting Trump’s role in breaking previous deadlocks. Detailed negotiations are expected in the coming days.

Reports suggest Ukraine may agree to purchase around $100 billion worth of U.S. weapons, financed by European partners, in exchange for American security guarantees. Zelensky later mentioned a $90 billion figure and noted that the framework for these guarantees should be finalized within ten days.

Despite the momentum, caution remains among European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron urged tighter sanctions if Putin fails to show genuine commitment to peace. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb warned that Putin cannot be trusted, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted Ukraine should not be pressured into giving up territory, comparing it to the U.S. being asked to surrender Florida.