Melania Trump helps forge a truce deal in Oleshky, says White House

First lady Melania Trump has brokered an upcoming ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the war-ravaged Ukrainian city of Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid and the evacuation of civilians, the White House announced on Friday.

The localised ceasefire is set to begin Thursday, with the American first lady saying in a news release that the situation there is "on the brink of disaster."

The White House said Melania Trump had initiated the discussions and that she and a representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the ceasefire.

There was no immediate confirmation of the ceasefire from the Ukrainian or the Russian governments.

The first lady has made helping children in conflict one of her signature issues and hosted a UN Security Council meeting on the issue earlier this year.

She has written to Russian President Vladimir Putin to work on efforts to reunite families with children who have been displaced by the war.

Food and medical supplies have been scarce for months in Oleshky, which sits on the Dnipro River that separates Ukrainian forces from the city's Russian occupiers. There is no electricity, heat or running water.

Roads leading from town are mined and dotted with burned-out cars. Drones buzz overhead.

Once a city of about 24,000 residents, Oleshky was captured by Moscow's forces on the first day of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Its buildings were shelled and burned, and its infrastructure damaged.

In June 2023, floodwaters inundated the city after the Kakhovka Dam collapsed from an explosion that an Associated Press investigation found was likely caused by the Russian military. Hundreds of residents were killed.

Those left in the city along Ukraine's southeastern front face death from hunger or disease as another harsh winter looms.

Ukraine has appealed repeatedly for a local ceasefire to organise evacuations. Russia, which as the occupying power is obligated by international law to ensure civilians under its control have what they need to survive, had made no commitment.

Melania Trump said in the White House news release that civilian leaders from Ukraine and Russia will visit Oleshky residents to determine the level of assistance they require.

"Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination," she said. "I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine."

Melania Trump also said "an impartial American media organisation" will accompany and document Russian and Ukrainian teams on the ground throughout the process.

"This will play a significant role in ensuring that the wishes of each family are faithfully respected," she said.

The statement did not identify the media organisation.

The Russian state news agency Tass quoted Russia's human rights ombudswoman Yana Lantratova as saying she has discussed the situation in Oleshky with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Lubinets. Lantratova did not elaborate, saying only that more information "will be released later."

Earlier this month, the Kremlin said Lantratova would be in touch with Melania Trump's office on the situation in Oleshky. Lantratova confirmed that she was in contact with the first lady's team.

Associated Press