By Fatma Younis
President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, at the White House but did not meet with visiting Ukrainian officials who were also present for an event honoring first lady Melania Trump’s role in brokering a localized ceasefire in the Ukrainian village of Oleshky.
Trump hints at broader peace deal
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump acknowledged his conversation with Dmitriev but declined to disclose details. “It’s going to be an agreement, it’s going to be a big agreement and it’s going to involve more than Ukraine,” Trump said, adding that the potential arrangement could encompass the whole of Europe.
Event marks Oleshky ceasefire
The gathering in the Grand Foyer recognized the six-day truce that took effect from Oct. 27 to Nov. 1 in Oleshky, a city on the Dnipro River in the Kherson region. The ceasefire, signed Oct. 23, allowed the evacuation of nearly 800 civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the estimated 2,000 residents who remained.
Ukrainian officials praise first lady
Davyd Arakhamia, head of the parliamentary faction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s party, and Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, attended the event. Arakhamia thanked Melania Trump for her “amazing job” and urged her to continue helping de-escalate the conflict. Dmitriev conveyed Putin’s appreciation for the first lady’s “distinguished humanitarian role.”
Melania Trump’s expanding diplomatic profile
The ceasefire marks the latest example of Melania Trump’s direct involvement in foreign affairs, a departure from recent first ladies who typically avoided engagement with warring nations. She said she initiated talks after learning of Oleshky’s dire conditions at a U.N. General Assembly side event in September, working with her top adviser, Marc Beckman, and leadership in both countries to define the truce terms.
Humanitarian crisis in Oleshky
Oleshky, once home to about 24,000 people, has suffered severe deprivation since its capture on the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The city lacks electricity, heat, and running water, and floodwaters from the 2023 Kakhovka Dam collapse killed hundreds. The temporary ceasefire provided a rare window for aid delivery and civilian evacuation.
Zelenskyy cites proof of Putin’s control
In a speech in Spain on Friday, Zelenskyy said the Oleshky operation demonstrated that “when Putin wants the fighting to stop, it stops,” noting days of real silence that saved hundreds of lives.
