The White House revealed that US First Lady Melania Trump has negotiated a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine regarding Oleshky, a front-line city under Russian control since the early stages of Moscow’s full-scale invasion. According to the announcement, both nations agreed to the truce, with their forces ceasing fire at 02:00 GMT on 27 October. The agreement encompasses provisions for evacuating residents and delivering humanitarian assistance to the population.
Oleshky, captured by Russian forces during the initial days of the 2022 invasion, has faced severe humanitarian challenges. The city remains positioned between Ukrainian forces across the Dnipro River and Russian military positions to the east. Recent reports documented extreme conditions, with residents resorting to eating garden weeds due to food scarcity, limited electricity access, mined roadways, and regular military bombardment. Prior to the invasion, the city had a population of approximately 24,000; Ukrainian estimates now place the remaining population at around 6,000, including 200 children.
According to the White House statement, Trump and her representatives worked directly with both Russian and Ukrainian leadership to establish ceasefire terms. The agreement specifies that civilian leaders from both nations will coordinate efforts to assess residents’ needs and facilitate evacuations to preferred destinations, whether in Russia or Ukraine. The statement emphasized that without Trump’s involvement, delivering humanitarian aid and evacuating elderly residents would have been impossible.
Ukrainian officials subsequently confirmed the arrangement, with a parliamentary representative stating that operations to address the settlement would commence in the near future. Russia’s presidential spokesman acknowledged the agreement, confirming that residents wishing to depart would be permitted to do so. The White House did not specify the duration of the proposed ceasefire.
This negotiation represents an expansion of Trump’s involvement in Ukraine-related humanitarian efforts. She previously initiated correspondence with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding child welfare and has reportedly facilitated the return of Ukrainian children from Russia, with approximately 34 children repatriated since 2025.
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