Melania Trump announces humanitarian truce in Oleshky
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Melania Trump says she secured a localised truce between Russia and Ukraine in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city where residents lack food. The truce is due to begin on 29 October to allow aid deliveries and elderly people to be evacuated, according to her office, with no immediate confirmation from Moscow or Kyiv.
US First Lady Melania Trump announced on Friday that she had secured a localised truce between Russia and Ukraine in the city of Olechky, occupied by Russian forces in the Kherson region. The agreement is due to take effect on 29 October, according to a statement from her office.
The pause in fighting is intended to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered and elderly people and residents who wish to leave the city to be evacuated. Melania Trump said Russian and Ukrainian civilian officials would travel there to assess needs. Moscow and Kyiv had not immediately confirmed the announcement.
The first lady said she had worked with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders and expected an independent US media outlet to accompany teams on the ground. Olechky, on the southern bank of the Dnipro, has been controlled by Russian forces since 2022.
The announcement comes after Vladimir Putin accepted talks with Kyiv and Washington, reported on 21 October. It follows the announcement of a humanitarian truce in Olechky, already published on 23 October.
