WASHINGTON: US First Lady Melania Trump has helped secure a temporary, localised ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and the evacuation of civilians.
The agreement is intended to provide relief to residents facing severe shortages of food, medicine, clean water and electricity.
According to the White House, the ceasefire will allow humanitarian assistance to enter Oleshky and establish a designated safe passage for civilians wishing to leave the city.
The arrangement is expected to benefit approximately 1,700 to 2,000 remaining residents, most of whom are elderly, along with around 50 children. Before the war, Oleshky had a population of approximately 24,000.
The city has remained under Russian control since February 2022 and has suffered extensive destruction, including severe flooding following the collapse of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023.
The ceasefire is scheduled to begin on October 27, according to reports of the agreed arrangements, while the White House has separately announced October 29 as the start date for the localised truce. Humanitarian operations are expected to follow.
Melania Trump said she and her representative had worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to establish the terms of the agreement. Civilian representatives from both countries are expected to assess residents’ needs and coordinate evacuations to destinations of their choice in either Russia or Ukraine.
An American media organisation will also accompany the operation to document the process and help ensure that residents’ wishes are respected. The agreement represents a limited humanitarian arrangement rather than a comprehensive peace deal, and its implementation will depend on security coordination and the safe clearance of routes, including areas potentially affected by landmines.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukrainian, Russian and US negotiating teams are expected to meet in Abu Dhabi during the first half of November to discuss efforts to end the wider war.
Zelensky has stressed that any peace agreement must include strong security guarantees for Ukraine and financial support for its armed forces over a period of 10 years.
Meanwhile, Ukraine had reported disruptions to its Starlink and Starshield satellite communications systems, which are used for military communications and drone operations. On October 24, however, Ukraine’s defence minister said full Starlink connectivity for drones and other fast-moving equipment had been restored following speed restrictions.
The developments come as Washington renews diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, although major disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv remain unresolved.