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Melania Trump Helps Broker Ceasefire in Oleshky

4:29 PM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: Melania Trump says she helped broker a ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid and civilian evacuation.

Melania Trump announced that she helped broker a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the war-ravaged city of Oleshky, according to the White House. The ceasefire is aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid and the evacuation of civilians.

The city of Oleshky, which had a population of about 24,000 before the war, was captured by Russian forces on the first day of their full-scale invasion in February 2022. In June 2023, floodwaters inundated the city after the Kakhovka Dam collapsed, likely due to an explosion caused by the Russian military.

The ceasefire is set to begin on October 29, with the operation to be carried out gradually and deemed extremely challenging to implement. The White House stated that the first lady initiated discussions with both nations and aligned the parties on the agreement's objectives, technical procedures, timing, processes, and terms.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian ombudsman and chief negotiator in the talks, said the ceasefire would take effect across the Kherson region and neighboring areas essential to the operation. He noted that the operation had been discussed for several weeks and involved many questions, initiatives, and ideas.

Russian forces will carry out “engineering reconnaissance” and ensure “safe movement of the humanitarian convoy” into the city, according to Valeriy Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. The White House said Trump had initiated the discussions and worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the ceasefire.

The situation in Oleshky is described as being “on the brink of disaster,” with residents facing limited electricity, mined roads, and regular military attacks. The ceasefire will allow residents who wish to evacuate to receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was grateful to the first lady for helping organize the Oleshky mission. Pope Leo XIV had also appealed for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Ukrainian city just a week prior.

The ceasefire is scheduled to start on October 29, with the operation expected to last several days.

What's confirmed

• Melania Trump says she helped to broker a localised ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the war-ravaged Ukrainian city Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid and the evacuation of civilians, according to the White House.
• In June 2023, floodwaters inundated the city after the Kakhovka Dam collapsed from an explosion that an Associated Press investigation found was most likely caused by the Russian military.
• He has also pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to make a deal to end the war that began in February 2022.
• Once a city of about 24,000 residents, Oleshky was captured by Moscow's forces on the first day of their full-scale invasion in February 2022.
• “The operation will be carried out gradually and is extremely challenging to implement,” Lubinets said.
• These residents were able to get out of Oleshky in spring this year US First Lady Melania Trump has "successfully secured" a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, the White House has said.
• It said the truce in the "front-line war city on the brink of disaster" without medicine, food and clean water would begin on 29 October.
• 22, 2026, smoke rises from a residential neighborhood in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in the Kherson region of Ukraine.
• Ben Finley, Associated Press Ben Finley, Associated Press Seung Min Kim, Associated Press Seung Min Kim, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine's top negotiator involved in a humanitarian mission led by U.S. first lady Melania Trump told The Associated Press that a local ceasefire with Russia will start Tuesday — two days before the mission begins — and last several days.
• "For several weeks, we discussed many questions, initiatives and ideas. We established new approaches, mechanisms and tools to do everything possible to help civilians in Oleshky survive."
• FILE - First lady Melania Trump speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House, Oct.
• In this undated image from video provided by the Ukrainian 34th Separate Marine Brigade "Borysfen" on Sept.

What's still developing

• First lady Melania Trump attends a tea with President Donald Trump, China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in the Red Room of the White House, Friday, Sept.
• An earlier announcement had given Thursday, 29 October, as the start date.
• “This will play a significant role in ensuring that the wishes of each family are faithfully respected,” she said.
• The Russian- occupied city of Oleshky is located at the frontline and is made up of 2,000 residents who have faced an ongoing blockade restricting food and aid.
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Sources

• ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporationlink
• Arabnewslink
• BBClink
• Gloucester Timeslink
• Kyivindependentlink
• PBSlink
• The Tribune-Democratlink
• Traverse City Record-Eaglelink
• Vaticannewslink
• WRALlink
• Los Angeles Timeslink
• Justthenewslink
• Independentlink
• Economictimeslink
• Scmplink
• Queen City News — video link