For nearly 800 civilians evacuated from Oleshky, the six-day humanitarian pause brought a route out of the city and deliveries of critical food and medical supplies.
Melania Trump helped broker the ceasefire in the southern Ukrainian city in October, then brought Russian and Ukrainian officials to the White House on 5 November 2026 to recognise the agreement.
The pause ran from 27 October to 1 November. It provided a narrow humanitarian outcome in a war that has persisted for years and created a humanitarian crisis.
The White House described the gathering as the first occasion in American history on which a First Lady had personally assembled representatives of two countries at war for diplomatic talks. The Ukrainian delegation included David Arakhamia, leader of the Servant of the People party in Ukraine's parliament, and Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's parliamentary human rights commissioner. Russia's delegation included Yana Lantratova, its human rights commissioner.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, attended the meeting. He told Melania Trump on Putin's behalf: 'On behalf of President Putin, on behalf of the people of the Russian Federation, we would like to thank first lady Melania Trump for her distinguished humanitarian role in resolving a key situation and resolving this humanitarian issue.'
Dmitriev said Putin had personally instructed officials to ensure the ceasefire was carried out. He also said Putin appreciated President Donald Trump's attempts to negotiate peace and had supported US proposals on prisoner exchanges, the release of US detainees and humanitarian cooperation.
Melania Trump told the delegations: 'Together, we can create something more enduring than a temporary ceasefire.' She added: 'We have chosen humanity over war. Undeniably, the lives of innocent people must transcend the divisions of war. I hope Oleshky inspires greater peace.'
The ceremony also carried messages from both sides. Dmitriev gave the First Lady a painting by an 11-year-old girl. Lubinets presented her with the Order of Princess Olga, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent in recognition of her role in the ceasefire and which was described as Ukraine's highest award for women. Melania Trump gave handwritten letters to Dmitriev and Lubinets for delivery to their presidents.
After the gathering, Donald Trump met Dmitriev separately in the Oval Office on Thursday. Trump said he had not met the Ukrainian delegation that day. He told reporters: 'I think we're going to be very close to settling Russia-Ukraine.'
Trump also said: 'There's going to be an agreement. It's going to be a big agreement, and it's going to involve more than Ukraine. I could even say it might involve all of Europe. It's going to be a big, beautiful agreement, and everyone's going to be thrilled.'
The terms and timing of any wider agreement remain unclear. A new round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks is scheduled for Abu Dhabi.
Comments (0)