Melania Trump was reportedly gifted a silk scarf designed by Ukrainian children as a present from the UK’s Sir Keir Starmer and his wife on Thursday, in homage to her advocacy on behalf of Ukraine’s youth.
Designed by children from London’s St Mary’s Ukrainian School with Ukrainian artist and designer Mariya Dykalo from Aspinal of London, the drawings on the scarf depict Ukrainian children’s dreams for what the future may hold.
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Many of the illustrations show the children returning home to be reunited with families, pets and their old homes.
The first lady was reportedly awarded the gift as she joined her husband to greet the Starmers at the prime minister’s country estate Chequers, where a bilateral meeting was held between the US and UK leaders, The Telegraph reported.
The gift was a nod to the US first lady’s outspoken support of Ukrainian children after she penned a personal letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin imploring him to safeguard future generations.
Although no specific children were referenced, the letter alluded to the Ukrainian children who live under Moscow’s control in occupied territories or have been deported to Russia, many of whom face Russification, militarization and indoctrination.
Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska responded in kind with a letter to Melania Trump, which Volodymyr Zelensky said was an expression of thanks for raising awareness about the plight of at least 19,500 Ukrainian children who have been abducted by Moscow.
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According to a report released by researchers at the University of Yale on Tuesday, children trafficked to 39 or more facilities across Russia and Ukraine’s occupied territories since February 2022 were subjected to re-education and militarization programs, including in some cases being forced to produce military equipment such as drones for Russia’s army.
The scarf marked an end to days of ceremonial gift-giving and diplomatic pageantry as the US president was feted with a second state visit to the UK, an unprecedented honor among his predecessors.
At Windsor Castle earlier this week, the king and queen of England offered Donald Trump a bespoke, hand-bound leather volume crafted by the Royal Bindery in Windsor Castle to mark the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next year.
He also received the Union Flag hoisted above Buckingham Palace on the day of his 2025 inauguration as well as a silver photograph frame engraved with the joint cypher of the president and first lady.
The first lady was also gifted a silver and enamel bowl with the queen’s cipher made by Northern Irish artist Cara Murphy, and a personalized Anya Hindmarch handbag.
In return, the president gave the king a replica of President Eisenhower’s sword as a “reminder of the historical partnership that was critical to winning World War II” and a Tiffany & Co. vintage 18K gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch incorporating the queen and the first lady’s birthstones.
The US president’s visit to the UK was greeted with nationwide protests and counterprotests.
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