Melania Trump secures ceasefire in Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, White House says

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump has secured an agreement between Ukraine and Russia to temporarily halt military operations in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, the White House announced on Friday. The localized ceasefire is scheduled to begin on the 29th of October, with the intent being to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and evacuate civilians trapped near the front line. The White House said that the First Lady had initiated the discussions and that she and a representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the ceasefire. Oleshky is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis with severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while attempts to escape have exposed civilians to mines and drone attacks. The city was captured on the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It was further devastated by flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023, which submerged large parts of the area and damaged already fragile infrastructure. Before Russia's full-scale invasion, it had approximately 24,000 residents. According to White House estimates, only 1,700 to 2,000 remain, including around 50 children.