People hold posters as they participate in a rally demanding the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to evacuate Ukrainian civilians from the town of Oleshky in Kherson region, Ukraine, on Oct. 6.Alina Smutko/Reuters
U.S. first lady Melania Trump has secured a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky, which will begin on Oct. 29, the White House said on Friday.
Residents of the southern Ukrainian town, occupied by Russian forces since February, 2022, have reported a deepening food crisis.
“Both nations agreed to temporarily stop all military action in Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway,” a White House statement said.
The development comes as Melania Trump’s husband, President Donald Trump, pressures Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reach an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February, 2022.
Melania Trump has been active in trying to get Ukrainian children seized by Russia during the war returned to their families.
“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,” Melania Trump said in the statement.
The ceasefire will allow non-military teams from both countries to visit residents in their homes and co-ordinate transportation for those wishing to evacuate to either Russia or Ukraine, with an unnamed American media organization accompanying the teams to document the process, the first lady said.
Newsmax, a right-leaning news outlet, said in a report that its cameras would be granted “exclusive access to document the effort.”
Oleshky, located across the Dnipro River from Kherson, has a remaining population of 1,700 to 2,000 people – primarily elderly residents, along with about 50 children – down from roughly 24,000 before the war, the White House said. About 90 per cent of the city was flooded following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, according to the White House.
The statement said Melania Trump and her representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the localized ceasefire.
“Residents who wish to evacuate will receive co-ordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination. I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine,” Melania Trump said.