Politics
BREAKING: Melania Trump Brokers Ceasefire In Russia-Ukraine Conflict
First lady Melania Trump has brokered a temporary halt to fighting in a Russian-occupied Ukrainian city to get aid to stranded civilians and help evacuate residents, her office announced Friday.
The agreement would pause military operations in Oleshky beginning Thursday, Oct. 29, offering relief to a population the first lady described as largely elderly and desperate for basic supplies.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine had commented on the announcement.
Under the arrangement outlined by her office, civilian teams from both countries would assess residents’ needs and help those seeking to leave the southern Ukrainian city.
“Non-military, civilian leaders from both countries will work together to visit Oleshky residents in their homes and determine the level of assistance they require,” the first lady said. “Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination. I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine.”
Melania Trump also said an American news organization would document the Russian and Ukrainian teams. Conservative outlet Newsmax said it would take part.
Her office credited the first lady with negotiating the arrangement herself, saying she worked “directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the localized ceasefire.”
The announcement described an unusually prominent diplomatic assignment for a first lady. Her office said she “initiated discussions with both nations and aligned the parties on the agreement’s objectives, technical procedures, timing, processes, and terms, in her formal role as Exclusive Intermediary.”
BREAKING: The White House says Melania Trump has brokered a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine “localised to the city of Oleshky”.
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The pause is intended “to allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway.”
For those still in Oleshky, the first lady described a daily struggle to survive amid attacks, mined roads and shortages.
“The situation in Oleshky is dire,” the first lady said in a statement. “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. The people of Oleshky have limited electricity, live amid mined roads, and endure regular military attacks. It was abundantly clear that without my intervention, the possibility to bring humanitarian aid into the city and to evacuate the elderly would be impossible.”
The announcement follows Melania Trump’s work to reunite 34 children with their families after Russia forcibly removed children during the war.
The proposed pause in Oleshky would be limited to the city. A broader peace agreement has remained out of reach for President Donald Trump, who pledged to end the war on his first day back in office.
The president has sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in recent days, saying Ukraine needs a new leader. He also downplayed Russia’s military activity when speaking with reporters earlier this week.
“Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine,” Trump said. “They haven’t been doing much.”
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff separately drew criticism for describing Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” following the release of American Stephen Hubbard.
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