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Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a temporary ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky starting October 29, the White House said on October 23, crediting U.S. first lady Melania Trump with brokering the deal. The pause is intended to let aid into the city and allow preparations for civilian evacuations.

Under the White House plan, civilian teams from both countries will visit residents at home to assess their needs. Those who want to leave will be offered transport to a destination of their choice. Both sides have assigned teams to coordinate the operation, including mine clearance.

Melania Trump stands at a lectern beside a map of countries in the Fostering the Future Together initiative.
Melania Trump speaks at a Fostering the Future Together event, September 22, 2026. File photo: Andrea Hanks / The White House.

Oleshky lies on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine’s Kherson region. The White House estimates that 1,700 to 2,000 people remain in the city, including about 50 children. Most are older people who have been unable to leave.

Oleshky and nearby communities face severe shortages of food and medical aid, the European Union said in an October 1 statement to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Citing the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, it said drone attacks and mines were preventing residents from leaving and supplies from getting through.

Melania Trump and her representative negotiated the agreement with Russian and Ukrainian leaders, the White House said, using contacts established while helping children reunite with their families.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters on October 21 that President Vladimir Putin had asked U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to convey his thanks to Melania Trump for helping reunite families and mediating talks over Oleshky, Interfax reported.

Ukraine’s parliamentary human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, told RBC-Ukraine in comments published on October 22 that Ukrainian officials were negotiating with Russia every day and were close to an agreement on evacuating residents. He said residents lacked food and medicine and that some had died as a result.

Neither the Russian nor the Ukrainian government immediately responded to the White House announcement, the Associated Press reported on October 23.