Spouses of heads of state and government gathered for the launch of First Lady Melania Trump's new global coalition of nations, including Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's wife attended the reception for Fostering the Future Together: A Global Coalition on Tuesday in New York City.
"First Lady Melania Trump was pleased to meet Mrs. Zelenska," Nick Clemens, communications director for the Office of the First Lady, tells HOLA! USA. "Mrs. Trump was delighted she was able to attend her Fostering the Future Together global coalition event—they have a shared vision—advancing the development of children."
The American First Lady's new initiative is committed to enhancing the well-being of children through the promotion of education, innovation and technology. "Fostering the Future Together's mission is to ensure that every child can flourish in the digital era," Mrs. Trump said in her remarks at the launch event on Sept. 23. "I will be hosting Fostering the Future Together's inagural meeting at the White House during the first quarter of 2026. Please join me to foster the future together."
In addition to Olena, the First Lady of the United States was supported by Queen Rania of Jordan on Tuesday. Her Majesty shared a photo the next day of herself and Melania posing side by side at the reception.
Prior to the event, Marc Beckman, a senior adviser to the first lady, revealed to Fox News’ Fox & Friends that Mrs. Zelenskyy had "reached out to Melania several times to set up a meeting," but noted in the interview that there was "no bilateral meeting" and "nothing formal."
Their meeting took place just over a month after President Zelensky delivered to President Donald Trump a letter from his wife Olena for First Lady Melania. The letter followed the "peace letter" that Mrs. Trump wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin in August, appealing to him to protect "the innocence" of children.
"Dear President Putin, Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation's rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center," Melania penned. "They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger. As parents, it is our duty to nurture the next generation's hope. As leaders, the responsibility to sustain our children extends beyond the comfort of a few. Undeniably, we must strive to paint a dignity-filled world for all - so that every soul may wake to peace, and so that the future itself is perfectly guarded. A simple yet profound concept, Mr. Putin, as I am sure you agree, is that each generation's descendants begin their lives with a purity - an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology. Yet in today's world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them — a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future."
"Mr. Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter. In protecting the innocence of these children, you will do more than serve Russia alone — you serve humanity itself," the first lady continued. "Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr. Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today. It is time."