Melania Trump's Office Says Oleshky Civilian Halt Starts Oct. 29

Residents of Oleshky, a Russian-held city in southern Ukraine, are to get a break in fighting starting Oct. 29 so that relief supplies can enter and elderly people can be moved out. The office of first lady Melania Trump said Friday that she arranged the halt in operations between Russian and Ukrainian forces. The arrangement is limited to the city itself.

Her office said both sides agreed to stop all military action within Oleshky to allow aid deliveries and to prepare an evacuation along a set safe route. The statement said she worked "directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the localized ceasefire" and acted in her formal role as "Exclusive Intermediary." Neither Russia nor Ukraine has commented on the announcement. Ukrainian officials have indicated a tentative agreement covering the occupied territory exists.

The first lady described conditions in the city as dire. "Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster," she said, adding that those who remain are mostly elderly and need medical attention, medicine, food and clean water. She said power is limited, roads carry mines and shelling is routine. She said aid delivery and evacuation of older residents would not have been possible without her involvement.

Under the plan, civilian leaders from both countries will visit residents at home to record what they need. People who want to leave will get transport to a destination of their choosing. "I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine," she said. She said she has arranged for an American news outlet to document the work of both teams; Newsmax, a conservative outlet, said it would take part.

The announcement comes after Pope Leo spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week about the humanitarian situation in Oleshky. Her office said she has also helped reunite 34 children with their families after Russia removed them. White House communications director Steven Cheung called the development "amazing news" on X and wrote that it was "a major, positive step towards peace."

The city sits in a war where President Donald Trump's push for a settlement has not moved. He had said he would end the fighting on his first day back in office. In recent days he has criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and said Ukraine should have a new leader. "Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine," he told reporters this week. "They haven't been doing much."

Oleshky lies in the southern part of Ukraine that Russia holds. The first lady's office said she began talks with both governments and set the objectives, procedures, timing and terms of any pause.