First Lady Melania Trump speaks about the Trump administration’s efforts on savings and investment accounts for children in foster care at the Treasury Department in Washington, June 11, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
The White House announced Friday that First Lady Melania Trump secured a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-controlled city of Oreshki, starting Oct. 29.
Residents of a town in southern Ukraine that has been occupied by Russian forces since February 2022 are reporting a worsening food crisis.
“The two countries agreed to temporarily suspend all military operations in Oreshky to allow the entry of humanitarian supplies and prepare for the evacuation of civilians through designated safe corridors,” the White House said in a statement.
The incident comes as Melania Trump’s husband, President Donald Trump, presses Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to reach a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Melania Trump has actively campaigned to return Ukrainian children captured by Russia during the war to their families.
President Melania Trump said in a statement: “The situation in Oreshky is dire. Oreshky is a frontline war town on the brink of disaster. The remaining population of Oreshky is primarily made up of elderly people who are in urgent need of medical care, medicine, food and clean water.”
The ceasefire will allow non-military teams from both countries to visit residents in their homes and coordinate transportation for people seeking refuge in Russia or Ukraine, the first lady said, adding that anonymous media outlets will accompany the teams to document the process.
Right-wing news outlet Newsmax said in a report that its cameras would be given “exclusive access to document the effort.”
The population of Oreshki, located across the Dnipro River from Kherson, has declined from about 24,000 before the war to between 1,700 and 2,000, mainly elderly people and about 50 children, according to the White House. According to the White House, approximately 90% of the city was flooded due to the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam.
The statement said Melania Trump and her agents worked directly with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders to set the terms of a local ceasefire.
“Residents who wish to evacuate will be provided with coordinated assistance and transportation to their desired destination. Some may want to go to Russia, some may want to go to Ukraine,” President Melania Trump said.
