Melania Trump joins Russia, Ukraine officials at White House event to mark Oleshky ceasefire — SkimNews
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- Melania Trump hosted Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, Ukrainian party head Davyd Arakhamia and human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets at the White House on Thursday to mark the ceasefire she brokered; President Donald Trump did not appear.
- Russia and Ukraine reached a localized agreement signed Oct. 23, pausing fighting in Russian-occupied Oleshky in Kherson from Oct. 27 through Nov. 1; it was the most significant truce since Russia’s full-scale invasion 4½ years ago.
- Oleshky had an estimated 2,000 residents when the truce began; they could evacuate to Ukrainian- or Russian-controlled territory or remain with replenished food and medical supplies.
- Melania Trump said the humanitarian convoy could safely evacuate more than 750 people, but Ukrainian authorities did not disclose the final count and restricted route details to protect residents who remained and safeguard future humanitarian missions.
- Oleshky residents crossed into Ukrainian-held territory during the pause, arriving by bus at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border and reuniting with family members.
- Kirill Dmitriev thanked Melania Trump for her “distinguished humanitarian role” and said Vladimir Putin personally gave instructions for the operation and sent his thanks.
- Melania Trump said she hoped the six-day suspension of hostilities could become more enduring: “What matters is not the modesty of this beginning but the determination to turn into something extraordinary.”
Why it matters: For roughly 2,000 residents of Oleshky, the Oct. 27-Nov. 1 pause created a concrete humanitarian opening: people crossed to Ukrainian-held territory, families reunited, and food and medical supplies were replenished. Its six-day, one-village scope kept the achievement narrow despite its status as the most significant truce since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
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