Melania Trump Brokered Five-Day Ceasefire Evacuating Nearly 800 People From Kherson
The first lady urged a permanent end to the conflict after a temporary halt in Oleshky allowed aid workers to deliver food and medicine to the region.
By Amelia Gupta ·
Ordinary residents of the Kherson region in Ukraine walked down familiar streets without fear of explosions last week, a change in daily life that First Lady Melania Trump highlighted on Thursday. She convened representatives from both warring nations to announce that a temporary humanitarian pause had successfully allowed for the evacuation of nearly 800 people from the city of Oleshky and surrounding areas.
Trump stated that the ceasefire, which lasted from October 27 to November 1, provided a window for humanitarian groups to distribute food, clean water, and medicine. She noted that people in the area experienced the simple joys of life for the first time since 2022, leaving their homes in search of safety and renewed connections with loved ones. The operation also included the evacuation of pets alongside the human residents.
Ukraine and Russia agreed to negotiate through Trump as the exclusive intermediary after acknowledging that previous ceasefire attempts in the region had failed. Trump initially learned of the dire conditions in Oleshky in September and instructed her representative, Marc Beckman, to contact both countries. The goal was to repatriate 34 displaced children and their families after more than four years of war.
Kirill Dmitriev, the special envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, credited the first lady with playing a crucial leadership role in coordinating the operation. He presented her with a painting from an 11-year-old boy who was safely evacuated from Oleshky. The artwork bore the message, “I love Melania.” Dmitriev described the note from the children as a powerful diplomatic statement.
David Arakhamia, leader of the Servant of the People’s Political Party in Ukraine, explained that the mission in Oleshky allowed both sides to learn the mechanics of maintaining peace. He expressed a desire to participate in future efforts at other locations. Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, presented Trump with the Order of Princess Olga, First Class, a high-ranking state award from President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Four journalists from Newsmax were selected to enter Oleshky and document the humanitarian mission’s progress. Trump shared personal letters she wrote to the Russian and Ukrainian representatives, asking that they be delivered directly to their respective heads of state. The event took place at the White House on Thursday, November 5.
