US First Lady Melania Trump has announced a local ceasefire in Oleshky, a city in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region under Russian control. The initiative aims to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and the safe evacuation of civilians trapped in the conflict zone.

A statement signed by Melania Trump was released by her office at the White House on Friday, October 23. According to the statement, the ceasefire is scheduled to take effect on October 29 and will initially be limited to Oleshky.

“The situation in Oleshky is dire. This frontline city is on the brink of devastation,” Melania said in the statement.

She added that without her intervention, delivering humanitarian assistance to the city and safely evacuating elderly residents would have been impossible.

The Kremlin has also welcomed the initiative. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a local ceasefire agreement had been reached with US mediation, adding that Russian and Ukrainian military officials were working on arrangements for its implementation.

Peskov praised Melania Trump’s role in facilitating humanitarian efforts. He told Reuters that Russia welcomed her efforts to coordinate humanitarian operations.

Under the proposed arrangement, a humanitarian corridor will be established to allow civilians to leave the city and essential supplies to reach those who remain. Residents wishing to leave will receive assistance and transportation to their chosen destinations. Some may opt to travel to Russia, while others may choose Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Melania said she and a neutral US media organisation would work with Russian and Ukrainian teams to document the process and ensure that residents’ choices were respected. However, she did not identify the media organisation.

Oleshky lies on the southern bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region. Russian forces took control of the city in 2022. Before the war, it had a population of approximately 24,000, but only around 2,000 people are believed to remain.

Former residents told AFP earlier this month that civilians were trapped amid fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, with severe shortages of food and medicine.

Melania has previously said she established a back channel of communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to her office, she has since helped reunite 34 children separated from their parents because of the war.

The announcement comes as US President Donald Trump steps up diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

**Sources:** AFP, Firstpost, and Reuters.