Melania Trump has secured a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine in the city of Oleshky, the White House announced on Friday. The local ceasefire is set to take effect on 29 October 2026, with both countries agreeing to temporarily suspend all military activity in the city to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and prepare for the evacuation of civilians via a safe corridor.
The city of Oleshky is under Russian control. Located on the front line since the start of the war, a large portion of its population has been displaced or evacuated. Before the war, the city had a population of approximately 24,000, but it is now estimated that between 1,700 and 2,000 residents remain, mostly elderly people who were unable to leave, along with around 50 children. An official population census has not been conducted since 2022. Following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, approximately 90 per cent of the urban area was flooded.
The remaining population consists largely of elderly individuals in urgent need of medical care, medication, food and drinking water. Residents have reported increasing food shortages, have limited access to electricity, live surrounded by mined roads and are exposed to regular military attacks.
Melania Trump and her representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to negotiate the terms of the local ceasefire. The First Lady initiated talks with both countries and aligned their positions on the agreement’s objectives, technical procedures, timeframe, protocols and conditions, acting in her official capacity as the sole mediator. “My representative and I immediately utilised the communication channel we established with Russia and Ukraine during the previous six family reunifications, which reconnected 34 children with their families,” Melania Trump stated, who has been actively advocating for the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia during the war and their reunification with their families.
Both countries quickly appointed teams to coordinate complex operational procedures, including demining. Civilian representatives from both nations, who are not affiliated with the military, will jointly visit residents of Oleshky in their homes to determine what assistance they require. Residents wishing to evacuate will be provided with coordinated assistance and transport to a destination of their choice.
Melania Trump ensured that an independent American media organisation would monitor the Russian and Ukrainian teams on the ground and document their work throughout the process. She learned of the dire situation in Oleshky during a private conversation at her event, Fostering the Future Together, held in New York during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
