First Lady’s Office Sets Six-Day Halt in Oleshky Starting Oct. 29

The office of First Lady Melania Trump announced on Friday that a temporary ceasefire will take effect in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in southern Ukraine. The six-day pause is scheduled to begin on Thursday, Oct. 29, and will halt military action to allow humanitarian aid to enter and facilitate a civilian evacuation.

Mrs. Trump’s office credited the first lady herself with securing the agreement, rather than President Donald Trump or other senior White House officials. In a statement, the office said she acted as the "Exclusive Intermediary," working directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms. Her team stated that she initiated talks with both nations and aligned them on objectives, technical procedures, and timing.

Neither Moscow nor Kyiv has publicly commented on the announcement yet. However, Ukrainian officials indicated that a tentative agreement has been reached regarding the occupied territory. The plan involves non-military civilian leaders from both countries visiting residents to assess needs. Those wishing to leave will receive coordinated transportation to their chosen destination.

Mrs. Trump described the situation in the city as dire. "Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster," she said. She noted that the remaining population consists mostly of elderly residents requiring medical attention, food, and clean water. She added that residents face limited electricity, mined roads, and regular attacks, and that without her intervention, bringing in aid and evacuating the elderly would have been impossible.

She said she expects some residents to move to Russia and others to Ukraine. To document the process, she arranged for an American media organization to observe the work of both teams. Newsmax, a conservative outlet, confirmed it would participate in the coverage.

White House communications director Steven Cheung called the development "amazing news" in a post on X. He described it as "a major, positive step towards peace" and said "history will remember her tireless work to help those in need."

The announcement follows a recent call between Pope Leo and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the pope expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky. Mrs. Trump has also previously worked to reunite 34 children with their families after their removal by Russia. The truce arrives as President Trump’s broader efforts to end the war have stalled, with the president recently stating that Russia has been "fine on Ukraine" and suggesting Ukraine might need new leadership.