“A child’s soul knows no borders,” the first lady began her closely held announcement in the White House grand foyer.

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Melania Trump wrote a letter to Putin that was delivered at President Trump’s Aug. 15 Alaska summit with his Russian counterpart and “much has unfolded since President Putin received my letter,” she said.

Putin replied to her letter and “since then President Putin and I have had an open channel of communication,” the Slovenia-born former fashion model said, describing “several back channel meetings and calls” that have taken place.

“My representative has been working directly with President Putin’s team” to connect children and their families, Melania Trumps said.

Eight kids have been returned to families over past 24 hours, she said, including one who was brought from Ukraine to her family in Russia, and “plans are already underway” for further reunifications.