Melania Trump Brokers Local Ceasefire in Oleshky for Aid Delivery

First Lady Melania Trump announced on Friday that she successfully negotiated a temporary ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in Ukraine's Kherson region. The deal was reached between Ukrainian, Russian, and US negotiators to allow humanitarian aid to enter the city and civilians to evacuate.

The localised ceasefire is set to take effect on October 29 to allow humanitarian aid to enter and civilians to evacuate. Ukraine's top negotiator, Dmytro Lubinets, said the ceasefire will start on Tuesday, two days before the mission begins, and last several days across the Kherson region and neighbouring areas essential to the operation.

“The operation will be carried out gradually and is extremely challenging to implement.”

Melania Trump worked with an unnamed representative in her formal role as Exclusive Intermediary to negotiate directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership. She initiated talks after learning about the situation at one of her events during the UN General Assembly session in September.

Lubinets said the agreement calls for a ceasefire, followed by the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid, and then the evacuation of civilians who wish to leave. He described the operation as extremely challenging to implement and said it will be carried out gradually.

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. Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the announcement and hopes the local pause can become a step toward an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire. He said this could lead to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with international law.