First lady Melania Trump voiced hope that a six-day localized ceasefire in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Oleshky and the surrounding Kherson region would inspire “greater peace” between Russia and Ukraine as she welcomed Russian and Ukrainian representatives to the White House on Thursday during a rare meeting to highlight “humanity over war.”
The unprecedented ceasefire in Oleshky, brokered by the first lady, marked the first significant pause in hostilities between Russia and Ukraine in the four years since the war began. From Oct. 27 to Nov. 1, humanitarian aid was able to enter the region and help safely evacuate nearly 800 residents.
Oleshky, a city in southern Ukraine, has been on the frontlines of the war since its occupation by Russia in 2022 and has faced a severe humanitarian and food crisis. Per the Office of the First Lady, roughly 24,000 people lived in Oleshky before the war, and today, an estimated 1,700 to 2,000 residents remain, with most of the residents primarily elders who have been unable to leave, along with 50 children.
“We were not born to spend our lives hiding in terror, watching the sky for drones and missiles, or scanning the grounds for mines,” the first lady said. “We are alive to love, create, explore, and love. Let Oleshky be the modest spark that grows into a lasting flame of peace.”
The event in the Grand Foyer of the White House comes after President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he could negotiate an end to the war in 24 hours — a promise he first made two years ago on the campaign trail, and one that he has yet to deliver on. Next week, the United States plans to mediate “working-level negotiations” between Russia and Ukraine on Nov. 10 and 11.
During her remarks, the first lady touted her direct involvement “in every stage of the planning” of the ceasefire, including reviewing plans, aerial images, roadways and evacuation routes. She said she first became aware of the crisis in Oleshky in September of this year, and she directed advisers “to engage with Russia and Ukraine” on her behalf. She said she used the communication channels they had previously established during her reunification efforts of children and families in Russia and Ukraine to coordinate the ceasefire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, and Ukrainian faction leader David Arakhamia were also in attendance.
Dmitriev said that Putin “personally gave all of the necessary instructions” to ensure implementation of the local ceasefire, adding that “this humanitarian mission shows what can be achieved when compassion, determination, and cooperation come together.”
Despite that optimism over Oleshky, the war continues to rage — earlier this week, in one of the deadliest days of the conflict, Russia carried out a bombing in a southeastern Ukrainian city that killed 33 people, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
At the White House event, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets presented the first lady with the Order of Princess Olga, 1st Class — the highest Ukrainian award for women — which was awarded to the first lady by Zelenskyy via presidential decree on Nov. 2.
Zelenskyy has publicly thanked the first lady for her efforts, and he recently said the ceasefire proved that “when Putin wants the fighting to stop, it stops.” He furthered, “ There was real silence. No attacks. And we saved lives.”
In her remarks, the first lady thanked both Putin and Zelenskyy for their cooperation, and she gave hand-written letters addressed to each leader to their respective representatives for delivery. It is unclear whether the first lady has had any direct communication to either leader thus far.
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