First Lady Melania Trump has helped secure a localized ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine aimed at allowing humanitarian aid into the war-ravaged, Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, while also facilitating the evacuation of civilians trapped in the area.
The temporary ceasefire, scheduled to begin next week, was reached after negotiations involving Ukrainian, Russian, and U.S. officials. The agreement is designed to provide critical relief to residents of Oleshky, a town in the contested Kherson region of southern Ukraine that has suffered extensive damage during the ongoing conflict.
According to the White House, Melania Trump became involved in efforts to assist Oleshky after learning about the city’s deteriorating humanitarian situation during an event she attended on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September.
The White House said the First Lady and a representative worked directly with both Ukrainian and Russian leadership to help define the terms of the ceasefire and create conditions for the humanitarian mission.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator in the talks, Dmytro Lubinets, confirmed that the ceasefire will begin on Tuesday, two days before aid operations are expected to commence, and will remain in effect for several days.
Lubinets, who also serves as Ukraine’s ombudsman, said the truce would cover the Kherson region and neighboring areas essential to the humanitarian operation. He expressed hope that the agreement could serve as a model for future humanitarian missions in areas affected by the war.
Speaking earlier on Friday, Lubinets thanked Melania Trump for her role in advancing the negotiations, while acknowledging the challenges involved in reaching the deal. He explained that the agreement establishes a ceasefire, followed by the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance and the evacuation of civilians from Oleshky.
Russian officials also confirmed the arrangement, marking a rare instance of cooperation between Moscow and Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict.
The humanitarian mission is expected to focus on delivering food, medical supplies, and other essential aid to residents, many of whom have faced severe shortages as fighting continues across southern Ukraine. Officials say the success of the operation could open the door to similar ceasefire agreements in other conflict-affected regions.
