First Lady Melania Trump says she has secured a local cease-fire in Oleshky
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The White House announced that First Lady Melania Trump helped arrange a localized cease-fire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, with Ukrainian and Russian officials working on timing.
The White House said First Lady Melania Trump has secured a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine in the southern city of Oleshky, which has been under Russian control since February 2022. A senior Ukrainian official told Reuters that a cease-fire in Oleshky is expected to be implemented soon, while a Kremlin spokesman said Russian forces are coordinating the timing.
"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.
"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," she added.
Melania Trump said her representatives worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the localized cease-fire and that civilian leaders from both sides will cooperate to grant humanitarian access. The truce is intended to allow an estimated 2,000 remaining residents who wish to leave to be transported to their preferred destination in Russia or Ukraine.
She also noted that an "impartial American media organisation" will accompany Russian and Ukrainian teams on the ground, though the organization was not identified.
The announcement comes as the administration of President Donald Trump pursues diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war, including recent concessions to Moscow such as purchasing Russian diesel and waiving certain sanctions. The Kremlin has indicated it will resume U.S.-mediated talks with Ukraine next month, while Ukraine has reported disruptions to its Starshield satellite system and said an agreement has been reached to address the issue.