US First Lady Melania Trump announced on Friday that she had brokered a localized ceasefire between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the city of Oleshky, a heavily affected area in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region. The city has been under Russian occupation since the 2022 invasion, and its residents have faced critical shortages of food and humanitarian aid.
In a statement released by the White House, Melania Trump described the situation in Oleshky as “dire” and emphasized that without her intervention, delivering aid and evacuating vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, would have been impossible. Both Moscow and Kyiv confirmed they would observe the truce starting at 0100 GMT on the upcoming Tuesday, which is two days earlier than initially indicated by the First Lady.
The ceasefire marks a continuation of Melania Trump’s less public diplomatic efforts related to the Ukraine conflict, dating back to October 2025, when she revealed she had established direct communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Her office reported that she has also facilitated reunification of more than 30 children separated from their parents due to the war.
The Kremlin acknowledged her role positively, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing her contribution as “significant.” Russian and Ukrainian military officials reaffirmed their commitment to the temporary halt in hostilities in Oleshky. President Donald Trump praised his wife’s initiative as focused on protecting children and expressed openness, albeit tentatively, about the possibility of her involvement in future peace negotiations, which the Kremlin has indicated could resume in Abu Dhabi next month.
The announcement comes amid a broader shift in the US administration’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with President Trump seeking closer engagement with Moscow. This has included recent agreements on energy supplies and delays in imposing additional sanctions on Russia. The rapprochement has been met with concern in Kyiv.
Tensions between the US and Ukraine were also highlighted on Friday regarding access to critical communications technology. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted persistent issues with the military-grade Starlink service, despite President Trump’s earlier claim that Elon Musk had fully restored the system. Zelensky told the Hudson Institute think tank that speed limits remained on the Starlink and Starshield systems, and that Kyiv was still awaiting the provision of interceptor missiles for defense against Russian strikes.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s full access to Starlink during a call with President Trump on Friday, according to Downing Street. Trump said he would follow up with Musk to resolve any remaining technical problems.
Regarding the Oleshky ceasefire plan, Melania Trump stated that civilian representatives from both Russia and Ukraine would visit the city to evaluate humanitarian needs and that evacuation efforts would be coordinated to allow residents to choose their destination, whether within Ukraine or Russia. She also mentioned that an impartial American media organization would accompany the delegations to ensure that the wishes of residents were respected, though she did not specify the name of the outlet.
The ceasefire agreement represents a rare moment of cooperation amid ongoing hostilities in the region and underscores the complex and evolving diplomatic landscape surrounding the conflict.