Melania Trump secures ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia in war-ravaged city

Melania Trump has successfully secured a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia in a war-ravaged city. On Friday, the White House confirmed the First Lady had brokered a deal to pause fighting "localised to the city of Oleshky". The Trump administration said the two sides to end all military action in the city on a temporary basis, allow for humanitarian aid to enter and enable residents to evacuate with a designated passageway. The ceasefire agreement is scheduled to come into effect on October 29. Oleshky is a Ukrainian city which has been under Russian occupation since 2022 and lies on the edge of the Dnipro River. Despite the city being engulfed in heavy military fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, thousands of civilians have been unable to leave, with many believed to be living without electricity, running water and regular food supplies. Before the war erupted in February 2022, roughly 24,000 people resided in Oleshky – and today, the population is believed to have plummeted to just 2,000. Some 90 per cent of the city's territory was flooded following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. Announcing the ceasefire agreement, the First Lady described the situation in Oleshky as "dire", warning residents trapped in the city were "on the brink of disaster". Mrs Trump said: "Oleshky’s remaining population is comprised primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food, and clean water. “The people of Oleshky have limited electricity, live amid mined roads, and endure regular military attacks. "It was abundantly clear that without my intervention, the possibility to bring humanitarian aid into the city and to evacuate the elderly would be impossible.” The White House confirmed the First Lady had worked closely with the leadership of Russia and Ukraine to reach an agreement over the terms of the temporary pause in hostilities. The President's Slovenian-born wife "initiated discussions with both nations and aligned the parties on the agreement’s objectives, technical procedures, timing, processes, and terms in her formal role as Exclusive Intermediary", the Trump administration said. UKRAINE - READ THE LATEST: The First Lady continued: "Non-military, civilian leaders from both countries will work together to visit Oleshky residents in their homes and determine the level of assistance they require. "Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination. I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine. “I have also secured an impartial American media organisation to 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.” The White House said the First Lady first learned of the deteriorating situation in Oleshky following a private conversation at the Fostering the Future Together event during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Throughout the war, Mrs Trump has spearheaded efforts to free Ukrainian children kidnapped by Vladimir Putin's forces. The First Lady first raised the plight of children in a personal letter to the Russian leader, which Donald Trump hand-delivered to him during their summit last August in Alaska. Her letter read: "We must strive to paint a dignity-filled world for all − so that every soul may wake to peace, and so that the future itself is perfectly guarded. "A simple yet profound concept, Mr Putin, as I am sure you agree, is that each generation’s descendants begin their lives with a purity—an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology." The First Lady's campaign first bore fruit in October 2025 when Moscow agreed to return children who were forcibly taken to Russia as minors and have since turned 18. Since then, her lobbying of the Kremlin has paved the way for four further returns to Ukraine to take place. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Follow related topics: