In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, former first lady Melania Trump has successfully negotiated a ceasefire in the embattled Ukrainian city of Oleshky, a front-line location described as being on the “brink of disaster.” This pause in hostilities, which commenced Tuesday at 3 a.m. local time, is specifically designed as a humanitarian mission, brokered with the mediation and coordination of Mrs. Trump, in cooperation with Russia’s commissioner for human rights, Yana Lantratova, as confirmed by Ukrainian Parliament commissioner for human rights Dmytro Lubinets. The dire situation in Oleshky, where the remaining population consists primarily of elderly residents in urgent need of medical attention, food, and clean water, with limited electricity and passage through mined roads under regular military attack, necessitated this intervention. Mrs. Trump stated that without her direct involvement, delivering essential aid and evacuating vulnerable civilians would have been impossible. The White House confirmed that both Ukraine and Russia agreed to the temporary cessation of all military actions to allow humanitarian aid to enter and to establish a safe passageway for civilian evacuations. Non-military, civilian leaders from both nations will collaborate to assess the needs of Oleshky residents in their homes and facilitate transportation for those wishing to evacuate to either Russia or Ukraine. This agreement follows weeks of intensive mediation involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to senior advisor Marc Beckman. The Russian Defense Ministry announced the cessation of fire in the Kherson direction to facilitate the humanitarian operation, a move that halts Russian troop activity in Oleshky, a city held by Russian forces since the early days of the February 2022 invasion and whose population has dwindled from approximately 24,000 to just a few thousand. This critical humanitarian effort unfolds amidst ongoing strikes elsewhere in Ukraine, including Oleshky.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
