White House says Melania Trump secures Oleshky ceasefire

The White House said Friday that Melania Trump has secured a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, allowing aid deliveries and civilian evacuations. Neither country had confirmed the agreement or commented on the announcement.

The localized ceasefire is due to begin Thursday, Oct. 29, according to the first lady’s office. It said both sides had agreed to halt military action in the southern city temporarily so humanitarian aid could enter and civilians could leave through a designated safe passageway.

“The situation in Oleshky is dire. Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster,” Melania Trump said in a statement released by the White House. She said the remaining population consists primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food and clean water. Residents have limited electricity, face mined roads and endure regular attacks, she said.

“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,” she said.

Oleshky, in Ukraine’s Kherson region, was seized by Russian forces during the first days of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. It had about 24,000 residents before the war; Al Jazeera reported that an estimated 2,000 remain. Those still in the city have faced serious food and medical shortages, and both sides have accused the other of blocking supplies, according to Al Jazeera. The BBC reported that some residents have resorted to eating garden weeds.

The first lady’s office said she worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to set the ceasefire’s terms. It described her role as “Exclusive Intermediary” and said she helped settle the agreement’s objectives, procedures and timing.

Under the plan she described, civilian leaders from both countries will visit residents in their homes to assess what help they need. People who choose to leave will receive transportation to their preferred destination. “I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine,” she said.

Melania Trump said an impartial American media organization would accompany the Russian and Ukrainian teams to help ensure families’ wishes are respected. She did not name it. CBS News reported that Newsmax said it would go.

The first lady has also worked to reunite children removed by Russia with their families. CBS News reported that 34 children have been reunited so far.

The announcement comes as President Donald Trump’s administration renews efforts to end the war. The Kremlin has agreed to resume U.S.-mediated talks with Ukraine as early as next month, though the two sides remain far apart on the terms of a possible deal, Al Jazeera reported.