First Lady Melania Trump urges peace in Ukraine

Melania Trump, born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, is a Slovenian-American former fashion model and the wife of the 45th and 47th U.S. President, Donald J. Trump. She is the second First Lady of the United States born outside the country, following Louisa Catherine Adams, and the only First Lady to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, achieving this status in 2006[1][2][5]. Melania Trump began her modeling career at age 16 and became a successful fashion model, appearing on numerous magazine covers and working with prominent photographers. She moved to New York in 1996 and continued her modeling career there. In 2005, she married Donald Trump, and they have one son, Barron[3][6]. As First Lady from 2017 to 2021, and again from 2025, Melania Trump focused on issues affecting children. She launched the BE BEST initiative in 2018, a campaign aimed at improving the well-being of children, addressing social media's impact, and combating opioid abuse[2][4][6]. Her efforts included visiting hospitals and schools to raise awareness about these issues. Melania Trump is also known for her philanthropic work. She served as Honorary Chairwoman for the Martha Graham Dance Company and as a Goodwill Ambassador for the American Red Cross. She was recognized as Woman of the Year by the Police Athletic League in 2006[1][4]. In recent years, Melania Trump has maintained a public presence, particularly through her continued advocacy for children's welfare. Her return to the role of First Lady in 2025 marks a continuation of her efforts in promoting children's health and well-being[5]. Despite her public role, Melania Trump has generally maintained a low profile compared to other First Ladies, focusing on her family and selected causes.

Vladimir Putin is the current President of Russia, a position he has held for multiple terms since 2000, with a brief interlude as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012[1][3]. Born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in 1952, Putin began his career in the Soviet Union’s security services, joining the KGB in 1975 and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the time he left in 1991, following postings in East Germany and Leningrad[4]. After the Soviet Union’s collapse, he transitioned into politics, serving as an adviser to Saint Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak and later moving to Moscow, where he held various administrative roles under President Boris Yeltsin[6]. Putin was appointed Prime Minister in August 1999 and became acting President when Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned that December[3][6]. He won his first presidential election in March 2000, promising to stabilize Russia’s economy and political system after the tumultuous 1990s[3][7]. During his initial terms, he centralized power, reasserted federal control over Russia’s regions, and curtailed the influence of the country’s oligarchs through legal and economic measures[7]. Putin was re-elected in 2004 but, due to constitutional term limits, stepped aside in 2008, becoming Prime Minister under his successor Dmitry Medvedev, while retaining significant influence[3]. Constitutional amendments later extended presidential terms, and Putin returned to the presidency in 2012[1]. Putin’s time in office has been marked by assertive foreign policy, including military interventions in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad and the 2014 annexation of Crimea, which led to international sanctions[1]. Domestically, his tenure has seen increased state control over media, the suppression of political opposition, and constitutional changes consolidating executive authority[1]. In 2022, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggered a major international crisis, further isolating Russia from the West and prompting widespread condemnation[1]. As of 2025, Putin remains a dominant figure in Russian politics, having secured another term in office through constitutional changes that allow him to potentially remain president until 2036[1]. His leadership continues to shape Russia’s domestic trajectory and its role in global affairs, amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine and strained relations with NATO and Western countries[1].

Donald John Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, is an American businessman, media personality, and politician. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1968 with a degree in economics. In 1971, he took over his family’s real estate business, renaming it the Trump Organization, through which he expanded into building and managing skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump gained widespread fame as the host of the reality TV show *The Apprentice* from 2004 to 2015, which helped establish his public persona as a successful entrepreneur. Trump entered politics as a Republican and was elected the 45th president of the United States, serving from 2017 to 2021. His presidency was marked by significant policy actions including tax cuts, deregulation, the appointment of three Supreme Court justices, renegotiation of trade agreements (notably replacing NAFTA with the USMCA), and a focus on immigration control including border wall expansion. He withdrew the U.S. from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran nuclear deal, and engaged in a trade war with China. His administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was criticized for downplaying the virus’s severity. Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives—first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection—but was acquitted by the Senate both times. After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump challenged the results, culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He remains a central figure in American politics, having won the 2024 presidential election and returned as the 47th president in 2025, continuing to promote policies aimed at economic growth, border security, and military strength[1][2][3][4].