White House: Melania Trump Brokers Local Oleshky Ceasefire
White House says First Lady Melania Trump secured a localized Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in Oleshky from 29 October; Moscow and Kyiv confirm talks on timing.
The story in focus
The White House said First Lady Melania Trump secured a localized Russia-Ukraine ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky, set to begin 29 October for aid and evacuations. Ukrainian and Russian officials confirmed the truce was agreed, with timing still being finalized.
- White House says ceasefire in Oleshky begins 29 October.
- Russia's Peskov says military is coordinating ceasefire timings.
- Ukrainian MP Arakhamia says an operation to unblock Oleshky will begin soon.
Announcement and terms
The White House said First Lady Melania Trump successfully secured a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in the Kherson region described in the statement as a front-line war city on the brink of disaster. The announcement said the truce would begin on 29 October.
According to the statement, Trump and her representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the localized ceasefire. Non-military civilian leaders from both countries would visit residents at home to assess assistance needs, and residents wishing to evacuate would receive coordinated support and transport to their preferred destination, whether Russia or Ukraine. The statement did not specify how long the ceasefire would last.
Confirmations and next steps
Ukrainian MP Davyd Arakhamia, who heads President Volodymyr Zelensky's party in parliament, said an operation to unblock Oleshky and its surroundings would begin in the near future, with a ceasefire achieved soon as announced by the US first lady. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the truce had been agreed and said the military was working to coordinate ceasefire timings, adding that those who wish to leave the settlement would be able to do so.
The White House statement said Oleshky's remaining population is primarily elderly residents in urgent need of medical attention, medicine, food and clean water. The city was home to 24,000 people before Russia's full-scale invasion; Ukraine estimates some 6,000 people remain in the city and surrounding areas, including 200 children.
When is the Oleshky ceasefire due to start?
The White House said the localized ceasefire in Oleshky would begin on 29 October. Russia and Ukraine confirmed the truce was agreed, with Moscow saying military officials were coordinating the timing.
Sources & further reading
- White House says Melania Trump brokers truce for Ukraine city 'on brink of disaster' ↗BBC
- Melania Trump ‘secured ceasefire’ in Ukrainian city of Oleshky: White House ↗Al Jazeera
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