U.S. First Lady Melania Trump will bring representatives of Russia and Ukraine together at the White House on November 5, the U.S. administration’s press service said. That same day, she will issue a statement on the ceasefire in Oleshky, Kherson region; according to the Ukrainian agency UNN, the address is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Washington time (7:00 p.m. Moscow time). The White House did not specify who would represent the two countries or which issues would be discussed.
The White House described the first lady’s mediation as an “unprecedented diplomatic initiative.” It said Melania Trump personally initiated contacts between the two warring countries and secured a ceasefire in Oleshky and adjacent areas of Kherson region.
Five days of silence
The local ceasefire took effect early on October 27. According to Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, Russian forces stopped firing in the Kherson direction at 4:00 a.m. Moscow time. It ended at 10:59 p.m. on November 1. During that period, Russian and Ukrainian human rights commissioners Yana Lantratova and Dmytro Lubinets conducted a humanitarian mission: some residents were evacuated, while humanitarian aid was delivered to those who chose to remain. The U.S. publication The Hill reported that nearly 800 people were evacuated from the city.
Lantratova said that, with Melania Trump’s assistance, the sides had agreed to conduct similar humanitarian missions regularly. The first lady had earlier thanked Russia and Ukraine for their cooperation and expressed hope that the ceasefire in Oleshky would become the foundation for lasting peace between the two countries.
Mutual accusations
The ceasefire was also accompanied by allegations from both sides. Kyiv accused Moscow of using the truce to strengthen its positions around the city, while the Kremlin said that Ukrainian forces had repeatedly shelled Oleshky. The White House meeting will be the first public event at which the first lady will present the results of her mission.
Photo: ABC News, NBC News
