Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly expressed his gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump multiple times during a meeting at the White House on August 18, 2025, thanking him about 11 times in approximately four and a half minutes. Zelensky specifically acknowledged Trump's efforts to stop the killings and end the war in Ukraine. During the meeting, Zelensky presented Trump with a handwritten letter from Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska addressed to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. The letter thanked Melania Trump for her compassion and for sending a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to protect Ukrainian children abducted during the conflict. President Trump confirmed that Melania Trump wrote the letter because she felt strongly about ending the war and has a great love for children. Trump also stated that the letter was well received by Putin. The letter was reportedly hand-delivered to Putin at the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. Zelensky's repeated expressions of thanks and the exchange of letters highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the U.S. and Ukraine to address humanitarian concerns amid the conflict with Russia.