In brief
The White House announced that Melania Trump arranged a ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city facing shortages of food, medicine, and electricity. The truce allows civilians to be visited, evacuated or receive humanitarian aid. Ukrainian and Russian officials confirmed the agreement, setting a halt to hostilities in the area. The move follows Trump’s earlier humanitarian outreach during the war, including a letter to President Putin and efforts to return children seized by Russia. Oleshky has endured continuous shelling, gas and power cuts, and a blockade that left residents surviving on garden weeds. The ceasefire’s duration is unclear, yet both sides pledge to support resettlement and relief operations.
US First Lady Melania Trump has "successfully secured" a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, the White House claims.
The truce is set for 29 October and aims to stop hostilities in the city described as facing a disaster without medicine, food and clean water.
Ukraine and Russia confirmed that their forces would stop firing at 02:00 GMT on 27 October and agree to evacuate residents and deliver aid.
Oleshky was seized by Russia in February 2022 during its full‑scale invasion. Residents have resorted to eating garden weeds to survive amid mines, lack of electricity and regular attacks.
The White House said Melania Trump and a representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the localised ceasefire.
The first lady said that non‑military, civilian leaders from both sides would visit homes in Oleshky to determine required assistance. Residents who wish to evacuate can use coordinated transportation to either Russia or Ukraine.
She added that the possibility of bringing humanitarian aid and evacuating the elderly was impossible without her intervention.
The statement did not specify how long the ceasefire would last.
Ukrainian MP Davyd Arakhamia said that operations to unblock Oleshky would begin soon, citing the first lady’s announcement as a key milestone.
President Putin’s spokesman confirmed that residents wishing to leave would be allowed to do so.
Additional reports describe the dire situation in Oleshky: limited electricity, a partially operational hospital and a blockade that left civilians deprived of food and water. The city’s population has dropped from 24,000 before the invasion to an estimated 6,000 residents and 200 children. The crisis was compounded by the 2023 flooding caused by a dam collapse, an event over which Ukraine and Russia accuse each other.
Prior to the ceasefire, Trump’s humanitarian outreach included a letter to President Putin urging protection of children and a later statement that she had privately communicated with him about the conflict.
