US First Lady Melania Trump on Friday said she had secured a local ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky, with the agreement set to take effect on October 29, 2026.The temporary halt in military action is intended to allow humanitarian aid to enter the city and facilitate the evacuation of civilians through a designated safe passageway.“The situation in Oleshky is dire. Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster. Oleshky’s remaining population is comprised primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food, and clean water,” said First Lady Melania Trump.“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.”Melania Trump said she and her representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to establish the terms of the ceasefire, including its objectives, procedures, timing and implementation. She said she acted in her formal role as Exclusive Intermediary.“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,” said First Lady Melania Trump.She also said she had arranged for an American media organisation to accompany Russian and Ukrainian teams during the process to document their activities.“The First Lady continued, “I have also secured an impartial American media organization 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.”How the ceasefire initiative beganMelania Trump said she learnt about the situation in Oleshky during a private discussion at her Fostering the Future Together event in New York City, held during the 81st United Nations General Assembly.“My representative and I immediately leveraged the communication channel we established with Russia and Ukraine through the previous six reunifications of 34 children. Both nations promptly assigned teams to coordinate the complex mechanics involved, including demining. All parties have worked around the clock since that moment,” explained First Lady Melania Trump.Oleshky is located in southern Ukraine, across the Dnipro River from Kherson. Before the war, the city had a population of around 24,000. An estimated 1,700 to 2,000 residents remain, primarily older people who have been unable to leave, along with approximately 50 children.No formal demographic count has been conducted in Oleshky since 2022. The city has remained on the front line since the war began, leading to the displacement or evacuation of much of its population.Following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, approximately 90 per cent of the city’s territory was flooded.
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