First lady Melania Trump has brokered a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the ravaged, Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky so that humanitarian aid can be delivered and civilians can be evacuated from a place she said is “on the brink of disaster.”
The localized ceasefire is set to begin next week.
Ukrainian, Russian and U.S. negotiators reached a deal Friday to provide humanitarian relief to the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in the war-divided region of Kherson in southern Ukraine.
Melania Trump, who worked with officials from both countries on a separate matter, initiated talks about Oleshky after learning about the situation at one of her events during the U.N. General Assembly session in September, the White House said in announcing her involvement.
She and a representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the ceasefire, the White House said.
Ukraine’s top negotiator in the effort told The Associated Press that a local ceasefire with Russia will start Tuesday — two days before the mission begins — and last several days.
Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian ombudsman and his country’s chief negotiator in the talks, said the ceasefire would take effect across the Kherson region and neighboring areas essential to the operation. He added the initiative could act as a model for future humanitarian missions.
Russian officials also confirmed the agreement.
Lubinets earlier Friday thanked Melania Trump and said the deal would be tough to accomplish. He said the agreement calls for a ceasefire, followed by the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid. Lastly, civilians will be allowed to leave Oleshky, he said in a video message posted online.
“The operation will be carried out gradually and is extremely challenging to implement,” Lubinets said.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the first lady’s announcement. Through spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres said he hopes the local pause in fighting can become a step toward “an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire” leading to “a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with international law.”
The removal of mines comes first
Lubinets said the operation would involve removing mines on the way to Oleshky before the physical delivery of humanitarian supplies and the arranging of evacuations.
He gave no further details on how the ceasefire or the aid mission would be monitored or implemented, citing the sensitivity of the negotiations. He declined to comment when asked if Melania Trump would travel to Ukraine.
“When Melania Trump learned about the situation in Oleshky, the negotiation process began under her coordination,” he said. “For several weeks, we discussed many questions, initiatives and ideas. We established new approaches, mechanisms and tools to do everything possible to help civilians in Oleshky survive.”
Russia’s chief of the general staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, said Russian forces “will cease fire on the Kherson axis” starting at 4 a.m. Tuesday in Moscow — or late Monday in the United States — “in connection with the humanitarian operation near Oleshky.”
Russian forces will also carry out “engineering reconnaissance” and ensure “safe movement of the humanitarian convoy” into the city, Gerasimov said.
Russia’s human rights ombudswoman, Yana Lantratova, confirmed that Melania Trump had brokered an agreement on “organizing a humanitarian mission” in Oleshky. Lantratova, who said she participated in negotiations, said providing such assistance is Russia’s priority.
