Trump urges lasting peace after Kherson truce
The first lady brokered a five-day humanitarian pause that allowed 800 residents to leave Oleshky.
By Fernando Rojas ·
First Lady Melania Trump urged for a permanent end to the war between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday. She made the call during a White House event following a successful five-day halt in fighting in the Kherson region. The temporary ceasefire allowed humanitarian groups to deliver food, water, and medicine to the city of Oleshky.
The first lady described the pause as a test of how the two nations can maintain stability. She noted that residents of Oleshky and nearby areas experienced daily life without fear of explosions for the first time since 2022. Trump said nearly 800 people left their homes during the window to find safety and reunite with family members.
Negotiations for the truce began in September after Trump learned of the displacement in Oleshky. She instructed her representative, Marc Beckman, to contact both governments through established channels. The goal was to repatriate 34 children and their families after more than four years of conflict. Both Ukraine and Russia agreed to use Trump as the sole intermediary for this specific mission.
Kirill Dmitriev, a special envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, praised Trump’s coordination of the operation. He presented her with a painting by an 11-year-old evacuated from Oleshky that read, "I love Melania." Dmitriev stated that the message from children overshadowed any formal diplomatic statement.
David Arakhamia, leader of Ukraine’s Servant of the People’s Political Party, said the mission taught both sides the mechanics of keeping the peace. He hinted at future efforts by saying he wants to go to the next location personally. He also noted that pets were evacuated alongside the human residents.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, presented Trump with the Order of Princess Olga, First Class. This state award is the highest civil decoration for women in Ukraine. It recognizes personal merits in state service, science, education, and charity. Trump also delivered personal letters to the Russian and Ukrainian representatives for their respective heads of state.
Four journalists from Newsmax were selected to enter Oleshky to document the humanitarian progress. The group traveled to the region during the pause to record the evacuation and aid distribution. The ceasefire lasted from October 27 through November 1.
