New York: Amidst the high-stakes diplomatic week at the United Nations General Assembly, a notable exchange—or lack thereof—has drawn attention. Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska’s multiple requests for a formal meeting with U.S. First Lady Melania Trump were turned down, according to a senior advisor to Melania Trump.
On Tuesday, Melania Trump hosted a reception for the spouses of world leaders to launch her new initiative, “Fostering the Future Together.” The initiative focuses on the well-being of children and the safety of artificial intelligence. In her five-minute address, delivered in a lavish ballroom, Melania Trump called on the first spouses to support her new partnership, which is aimed at ensuring children can “flourish in the digital era.”
Olena Zelenska was present at the event and was reportedly spotted near the front of the audience, listening intently to the speech. Zelenska had traveled to New York with the specific goal of meeting with her American counterpart to appeal for support on a critical issue: the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
According to Ukrainian officials, more than 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted and forcibly taken to Russia during the conflict. Zelenska has been leading an international effort to secure their return. She warned at another event in New York that, at the current rate of return, it could take as long as 50 years to bring all of the children home.
However, despite Zelenska’s repeated attempts to secure an official sit-down, a senior advisor to Melania Trump, Marc Beckman, confirmed that a formal bilateral meeting was not scheduled. Speaking on Fox News, Beckman stated, “The truth is, Mrs. Zelenska has reached out several times to set up a meeting, but there’s no bilateral meeting. There’s nothing formal.” He added that Melania Trump would offer a “quick acknowledgement out of courtesy” but that no substantive conversation was planned.
After delivering her remarks, Melania Trump reportedly left the room without greeting her counterparts. Zelenska was later seen standing alone near an elevator.
The decision by Melania Trump to decline a formal meeting with Zelenska has stirred commentary, particularly given her stated focus on children’s welfare. Zelenska had hoped to use the opportunity to draw attention to a critical humanitarian crisis, appealing directly to the US First Lady on a topic that aligns with her own public platform.