Melania Trump ‘secured ceasefire’ in Ukrainian city Oleshky: White House

What the report says

The White House said on Friday that US first lady Melania Trump helped secure a localized ceasefire in Oleshky, a southern Ukrainian city occupied by Russia since February 2022. Al Jazeera reported that neither Russia nor Ukraine immediately confirmed the announcement. The statement came as the Trump administration has renewed diplomatic efforts related to the war in Ukraine.

According to the White House release cited by Al Jazeera, the arrangement is intended to permit humanitarian access to civilians and support the evacuation of older residents who remain in the city. Melania Trump described Oleshky as a front-line area facing severe hardship, including damaged infrastructure, mined roads and repeated attacks. She said her representatives worked with Russian and Ukrainian officials to define the terms of the ceasefire.

Al Jazeera said Oleshky had about 24,000 residents before the full-scale invasion and now has roughly 2,000 people still there, many facing food and medical shortages. The city sits on the southeastern front of the conflict and has been heavily shelled since Russian forces took control at the start of the war.

The article said the ceasefire would allow residents who want to leave to be evacuated to destinations in Russia or Ukraine, and that an unnamed American media organization would accompany teams on the ground. The reported development matters because it could open a narrow humanitarian channel in one of the war’s most damaged areas, though its practical impact remains unclear without confirmation from the warring parties.