Melania Trump has secured a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky.
According to Reuters, White House announced on Friday, October 23, that the US first lady broker ceasefire in food crisis-hit city of Oleshky which will begin next Thursday.
The chief of staff of Russian forces, Valery Gerasimov, said on the Defence Ministry's Telegram channel that Russian troops would halt fire from 4 am local time (0100 GMT) on Tuesday to allow for the humanitarian operation to start.
Residents of the southern Ukrainian city, occupied by Russian forces since February 2022, have reported a deepening food crisis.
White House statement said, "Both nations agreed to temporarily stop all military action in Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway.”
Ukraine's top negotiator, David Arakhamia, said on Telegram that the humanitarian operation would start once a ceasefire was in place.
He said the accord, the result of a long process involving Melania Trump and Pope Leo, would set up a humanitarian corridor for residents to leave and allow assistance into the town.
In Moscow, the Kremlin welcomed the agreement. It praised Melania Trump's role in securing the agreement and said President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had discussed details.
Melania Trump has been active in trying to get Ukrainian children seized by Russia during the war returned to their families.
"The situation in Oleshky is dire. Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster. Oleshky's remaining population is comprised primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food, and clean water," Melania Trump said in the statement.
The Kremlin said earlier this week that work was under way to ease the humanitarian situation in Oleshky after Putin told the pope he was ready to cooperate on the issue.
