Melania Trump Announces Six-Day Ceasefire in Oleshky
The first lady hosted Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House to mark a temporary pause in fighting in southeastern Ukraine.
By Samuel Hayes ·
First Lady Melania Trump presided over a White House gathering where Russian and Ukrainian representatives acknowledged a six-day ceasefire in the city of Oleshky. The pause in fighting allowed humanitarian aid to reach the occupied area and enabled the evacuation of hundreds of residents. The temporary reprieve concluded on Sunday.
During the event, the first lady stated that the group had chosen humanity over war. She said the lives of innocent people must transcend the divisions of war and expressed hope that Oleshky would inspire greater peace. The White House characterized the meeting as a diplomatic breakthrough. The administration is currently working to secure a permanent end to the war in Ukraine.
Kirill Dmitriev, the special envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, thanked the first lady for her humanitarian role. He said Putin personally issued instructions to ensure the successful implementation of the ceasefire. Dmitriev stated that he thanked the first lady on behalf of the Russian Federation for resolving the humanitarian issue.
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets presented the first lady with the Order of Princess Olha, 1st Class. This is Ukraine's highest award for women. Lubinets asked the first lady to continue her work and support the people of the Ukrainian nation.
President Donald Trump also met with Dmitriev at the White House. The president told reporters that the two sides were close to reaching a final deal. He described the upcoming agreement as big and beautiful, noting it might involve all of Europe. Trump said everyone would be thrilled by the result.
Heather Conley, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, offered a different perspective. She noted that the U.S. must be careful not to normalize Russia's behavior. Conley argued that honoring Russian officials for allowing aid into Oleshky created an equivalency between the two sides. She stated that this approach put the crisis upside down by honoring the occupiers for their role in the relief efforts.
The White House event took place just days before the U.S. leads a new round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi. Those negotiations are scheduled to begin next week.
