First lady Melania Trump announced on Friday that she helped secure a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the city of Oleshky to facilitate the humane evacuation of elderly residents.
Trump worked directly with Ukrainian and Russian leadership as the “exclusive intermediary,” according to a press release from the first lady’s office, and initiated discussions to secure the terms of the ceasefire agreement. The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement it would implement the ceasefire in the region beginning at 4 a.m. Moscow time on October 27, and Ukraine officials said it would do the same at three am Kyiv time on the same day.
Both Russian and Ukrainian officials on Friday confirmed the limited ceasefire. Ukrainian authorities said around 1,700 civilians remain in the city and supply routes for food and medicine have been blocked.
“Oleshky’s remaining population is comprised primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food, and clean water,” Trump said in a statement. “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.”
“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,” she added.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov credited Trump for her “significant contribution.” He said Russian leader Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump discussed the topic in a recent call, as CNN has previously reported.
“The military is working to coordinate a ceasefire in that area to facilitate this humanitarian mission. Those who wish to leave the settlement will be able to do so. Naturally, this requires extensive and complex preparation, involving a wide range of different representatives,” Peskov said.
Peskov declined to provide specifics on the evacuation routes or how long the ceasefire would last, only saying the operation would “certainly take at least a few days.” Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament commissioner for human rights and a leader in negotiations, said the “operation will take place gradually; it is extremely complex to carry out.”
Davyd Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian parliament and part of the negotiations, said he would “like to highlight the roles played by the Pope and US First Lady Melania Trump.”
CNN previously reported that Pope Leo discussed the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky on a phone call with Putin last Friday while in the hospital recovering from lung cancer surgery, according to the Vatican. The Kremlin said that Putin “supported” the Vatican’s intention to help alleviate the conditions.
“An operation to lift the blockade of the town of Oleshky and its surrounding areas will begin shortly. Its goal is to establish permanent humanitarian corridors for the safe evacuation of civilians and the delivery of aid,” Arakhamia said in a statement.
“To achieve this goal, a ceasefire will be established in the near future, as announced by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump,” he continued.
Donald Trump praised his wife’s efforts on Friday, saying “they contacted both sides, and both sides wanted to do it.” He said that her focus remains on helping the children impacted by the war.
“What she wants to do is save children,” the president said. “That’s her focus. Both sides are cooperating with her, so doing a very good job.”
Asked if the first lady would be part of potential trilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine, Trump said: “No, but that’s not the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”
The first lady’s office said that the circumstances of Oleshky came to her attention during a private discussion at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Communication lines were already opened, given Trump has been involved with the reunification of children that have been separated from their families due to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Melania Trump said Friday she “secured an impartial American media organization to accompany and document Russian and Ukrainian teams on the ground throughout the process.” The right-wing network Newsmax subsequently said that it was “granted exclusive television access to accompany a delegation of Russian and Ukrainian observers entering Oleshky on Oct. 29.”
Concerns about the poor humanitarian conditions in Oleshky were raised during a briefing hosted by the Ukrainian and Norwegian embassies in Washington, DC, earlier this week.
Denys Sienik, the top Ukrainian diplomat in Washington, said that Russia has not allowed the Red Cross to deliver desperately needed food, clothing and medicine to the people there, many of whom are elderly.
Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian whose organization won the Nobel Peace Prize, said that “because of constant hostilities, landmines, and manned-drone attacks, people can’t leave the city.”
“People are eating grass,” she said, noting that the last official food delivery was in May.
Matviichuk added that under international law, Russia, as an occupying force, has an obligation to provide food, medicine and drinking water to the population under its control.
Lack of power is an issue too. Residents are freezing to death because the generators have run out of power, according to Zarina Zabrisky, an independent journalist based in Kherson.
“I had multiple reports of bodies left to rot in the roads. And since there were a lot of abandoned animals there, including dogs, there are packs of wild dogs consuming the human remains,” she said.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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