In a historic diplomatic gathering, United States First Lady Melania Trump welcomed representatives from both Russia and Ukraine to the White House, calling for a lasting peace beyond the recent localized ceasefire in Oleshky.
The event, described by the White House as the first time a First Lady has personally brought officials from two warring nations to the U.S. capital for dialogue, featured Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova, Ukrainian Servant of the People party leader David Arakhamia, and Ukrainian parliamentary human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets.
During her remarks, Mrs. Trump emphasized the need for a durable resolution, stating, “Together, we can create something more enduring than a temporary ceasefire.” She highlighted the humanitarian truce in Oleshky as a beacon of hope amid ongoing conflict.
According to the First Lady, her role as an “exclusive intermediary” was established through written agreements signed by both sides. She claimed involvement in every planning stage, from reviewing de‑mining strategies to outlining evacuation routes.
Ukrainian officials presented Mrs. Trump with the Order of Princess Olga, first class, a decoration previously awarded to her by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She also handed letters she had written to Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy to the senior officials present.
The six‑day truce, the longest multi‑day pause since Russia’s full‑scale invasion began in February 2022, allowed aid deliveries and the evacuation of nearly 800 people from the Russian‑occupied city of Oleshky in Kherson region. It also marked the first joint relief operation in four years and eight months.
While the White House credits Mrs. Trump with mediating the truce, other accounts, including those involving Pope Leo XIV, suggest a more complex negotiation process. The ceasefire expired last Sunday without extension, shortly before a Russian bombing of an aid distribution point in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhia region, which killed at least 40 civilians, according to President Zelenskyy.
New U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine are slated to take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, offering another opportunity to advance peace efforts.
Source: Al Jazeera
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