Melania Trump says she has secured a localised ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky, with the halt in fighting due to begin on October 29.
The White House said the agreement would allow humanitarian aid to enter the southern Ukrainian town and preparations to begin for a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway.
“Both nations agreed to temporarily stop all military action in Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway,” a White House statement said.
Oleshky has been occupied by Russian forces since February 2022. Residents have reported a worsening food crisis, while the White House said the remaining population of between 1,700 and 2,000 people was mainly elderly, alongside about 50 children.
Melania Trump said the ceasefire would enable non-military teams from Russia and Ukraine to visit residents and organise transport for those seeking to leave for either country.
“The situation in Oleshky is dire. Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster. Oleshky’s remaining population is comprised primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food, and clean water,” she said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said all civilians wishing to leave would be allowed to do so, with the evacuation expected to take at least several days. He praised the first lady’s role in the arrangement, saying it had been discussed during a recent phone call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
“We welcome the efforts of the First Lady of the United States, Mrs Melania Trump, who has made a significant contribution to the coordination of the humanitarian operation,” Mr Peskov told reporters.
Ukraine’s top negotiator, David Arakhamia, confirmed that a ceasefire would be established soon and said work would also begin on permanent humanitarian corridors for evacuations and food deliveries. He did not provide further details.
The White House said about 90 per cent of Oleshky was flooded after the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. The city lies across the Dnipro River from Kherson and had a pre-war population of about 24,000.
The ceasefire comes as President Trump presses Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to reach an agreement with Mr Putin to end the war. Melania Trump has also been involved in efforts to secure the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the conflict.
The operation is expected to be documented by an unnamed American media organisation. Right-leaning outlet Newsmax said its cameras would receive exclusive access to record the humanitarian effort.
