Melania Trump says she secured a one-city ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine for humanitarian aid

CNN · CBS News and CBS News report that First Lady Melania Trump's office says she brokered a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine covering Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in southern Ukraine, so aid can arrive and older residents can be moved out. The truce is set to start Thursday, October 29. CBS News notes that such an announcement is unusual coming from a first lady's office.

According to her office, she served as "Exclusive Intermediary," negotiating directly with leaders on both sides. She described Oleshky as a front-line city with little electricity, mined roads and regular attacks, populated mostly by elderly people. Civilian leaders from both countries are to visit residents at home, assess their needs and help those who want to leave travel wherever they choose.

CBS News adds that neither Russia nor Ukraine has commented, though Ukrainian officials suggested a tentative arrangement exists. It also reports that Newsmax will accompany the teams, that White House communications director Steven Cheung praised the move, and that President Trump has recently grown frustrated with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. CNN and CBS News say her work reuniting separated children preceded this effort.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN · CBS News and CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN · CBS News → Also at CBS News →