She told reporters at the White House that Putin responded to a letter she sent earlier this year and that they have maintained contact since then.
“President Putin and I have had an open channel of communication about the welfare of these children,” she said.
President Donald Trump delivered his wife’s letter to Putin when the two leaders met in Alaska in August, the Reuters news agency reported.
The first lady said eight children had been returned to their families within the past 24 hours and that more reunifications were expected soon.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of unlawful deportation of children and unlawful transfer of people from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.
Separately, the court issued a warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's Commissioner for Children's Rights, who faced the same charges.
(gs)
Source: Reuters, PAP