WASHINGTON, United States — US First Lady Melania Trump has negotiated a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, the White House announced.
The agreement, scheduled to take effect on October 29, will suspend fighting in the southern Ukrainian city to permit humanitarian deliveries and the evacuation of civilians trapped by the war.
In a statement released on Friday, October 23, 2026, the White House said the first lady and her representative had negotiated directly with officials from Moscow and Kyiv.
The arrangement applies specifically to Oleshky and does not constitute a broader ceasefire in the war between the two countries.
Neither the Russian nor Ukrainian government had immediately commented independently on the agreement, according to the Associated Press.
Agreement Provides for Humanitarian Aid and Evacuations
Under the arrangement, civilian representatives from Russia and Ukraine will coordinate operations to identify residents requiring assistance and arrange their evacuation.
The White House said teams from both countries would visit homes to assess residents’ needs, including access to medical treatment, food, and essential supplies.
Those seeking to leave Oleshky will be offered transportation to destinations in either Ukraine or Russia, depending on their preference.
“Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination,” Melania Trump said.
The operation will also require work to clear mines from roads used to transport civilians and humanitarian supplies.
The White House said an American media organisation would accompany the Russian and Ukrainian teams to document the evacuation process.
Newsmax subsequently reported that it had been selected to provide exclusive coverage of the operation.
The first lady described her role in the negotiations as an intermediary between the two governments, helping them establish procedures, timing, and other arrangements for the temporary suspension of military activity.
Thousands Remain Trapped in Russian-Occupied Oleshky
Oleshky lies on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, opposite the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kherson.
Russian forces seized the city during the opening stages of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Before the war, Oleshky had approximately 24,000 residents. The White House estimates that between 1,700 and 2,000 people remain, including about 50 children.
Most of those still living there are elderly residents who have been unable to evacuate.
The city has experienced severe shortages of food, drinking water, medicine, and electricity, while damaged roads and continuing military operations have restricted access.
“The situation in Oleshky is dire,” the first lady said.
Accounts from residents, reported by Sky News, describe shortages so severe that some inhabitants have resorted to boiling grass for food.
The city also suffered extensive flooding after the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023.
According to the White House, approximately 90 per cent of Oleshky’s territory was inundated.
The disaster compounded the destruction caused by shelling and military operations in the area.
Ukraine has repeatedly sought arrangements to evacuate civilians from the Russian-controlled city.
Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of responsibility for obstacles preventing humanitarian assistance from reaching residents.
First Lady Builds on Earlier Efforts to Reunite Ukrainian Children
The ceasefire initiative follows Melania Trump’s involvement in efforts to reunite children separated from their families during the war.
According to the White House, her office has previously facilitated six reunification operations involving 34 children.
Those contacts provided a channel for approaching officials in both countries about Oleshky.
The first lady said she became aware of the city’s worsening humanitarian conditions during a private discussion at her Fostering the Future Together event in New York, held alongside the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
She subsequently contacted Russian and Ukrainian officials through the channels established during the family reunification efforts.
The two governments then designated representatives to develop arrangements for the operation, including mine clearance and civilian transportation, according to the White House.
Melania Trump has previously written to Russian President Vladimir Putin about children displaced by the war.
She has also made the protection of children affected by armed conflicts a focus of her public activities.
Local Ceasefire Announced Amid Wider Peace Negotiations
The humanitarian arrangement comes as President Donald Trump continues efforts to secure an agreement ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
His administration has held discussions with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, although negotiations over a broader settlement remain unresolved.
The Oleshky agreement is limited to a designated area under Russian occupation and is intended to facilitate relief operations rather than settle the wider military conflict.
The Reuters report said residents of Oleshky had been reporting increasingly severe food shortages.
Russian officials have also discussed humanitarian assistance for the city, while the Ukrainian government has continued pressing for civilian evacuations.
The White House has not announced how long the temporary ceasefire will remain in force or how many residents are expected to leave.
The planned operation will begin with humanitarian access and assessments of the remaining population, followed by organised transportation for residents who wish to evacuate.
