Melania Trump Announces Oleshky Ceasefire

United States (US) First Lady Melania Trump has announced a localised ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the occupied city of Oleshky, where residents are reportedly trapped and facing food shortages.

The ceasefire is scheduled to begin on October 29, according to a statement from her office issued on Friday. According to AFP, however, neither Moscow nor Kyiv had immediately confirmed the agreement.

“The situation in Oleshky is dire. Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster,” Melania said in the statement.

She added that she had worked with Russian and Ukrainian leaders to secure the arrangement, which is intended to allow humanitarian aid into the city and support the evacuation of elderly residents.

“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,” she said.

Under the plan, residents who wish to leave Oleshky will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destinations. Melania said some residents might choose Russia, while others might prefer Ukraine. She also announced plans for an unidentified American media organisation to accompany Russian and Ukrainian teams on the ground.

The organisation would document the process to help ensure that residents’ wishes are respected, according to the statement.

Oleshky is located on the southern bank of the Dnipro River in Ukraine’s Kherson region. Russian troops seized the city in 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine. Its population has reportedly fallen from about 24,000 before the war to around 2,000.

Former residents told AFP earlier this month that people remaining in the city were caught in the crossfire between Russian and Ukrainian forces. They also reported worsening shortages of food and medication.

Melania’s announcement comes about a year after she revealed that she had established a direct communication channel with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Her office said she has since helped secure the reunification of 34 children separated from their parents by the war. In some cases, Russia had allegedly taken the children.

The latest announcement also comes as US President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. His approach has included renewed engagement with Putin, while relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have remained central to the diplomatic process.

Melania, a former model born in Slovenia, has generally maintained a low public profile at the White House. She has, however, launched several initiatives in recent months, including programmes to support older foster children and address online harassment.

Last week, she unveiled a women’s health programme during a White House Rose Garden press conference alongside her husband. In January, she released a documentary titled Melania, which presented a carefully curated account of her husband’s return to power. The film was funded through a multimillion-dollar deal with Amazon.