Melania Trump Announces Humanitarian Truce in Oleshky

According to estimates by the Ukrainian government, between two and six thousand civilians are trapped in Oleshky. The city has been cut off from food and medicine supplies for many months. People are starving: residents previously reported that they were forced to cook soup from weeds. It is also very dangerous to get out of the city due to mined roads.

Melania Trump called the situation in Oleshky critical and stated that the city is on the verge of disaster. Most of those who remained there are elderly people who urgently need medical assistance, medicines, food, and clean water.

The city found itself trapped due to its geographical location and military actions. To the north and west, it is separated by the Dnipro River, and the bridges are destroyed. Roads to the south and east are dangerous or impassable. Meanwhile, land routes to Oleshky currently exist only from the territory controlled by Russian troops. All bridges from the Ukrainian side have been blown up.

According to Melania Trump, she learned about the situation in the city during a private conversation at the UN General Assembly. She claims to have mediated negotiations with the leadership of Russia and Ukraine, initiated them, and coordinated the technical procedures and terms of the ceasefire.

The plan provides for a temporary cessation of hostilities, delivery of humanitarian aid, and the establishment of a safe corridor for evacuation. According to the First Lady of the United States, residents who wish to leave the city will be provided with transport and other necessary support. She expects that some people will choose to evacuate to Russia, and some to Ukraine.

Melania Trump also reported that residents of Oleshky will be visited by civilian representatives from both countries who are not connected with military structures. An independent American media organization is expected to accompany the Russian and Ukrainian groups and document their work.

Currently, however, it remains unclear from which side aid will be delivered and the humanitarian corridor organized. Likely, this will be territory controlled by Russia. In her statement, Melania Trump also did not explain how they plan to address the problem of mined territories. Previously, local residents reported that attempts to leave the city or deliver food there were associated with the risk of dying on mined roads.

Earlier, Pope Leo XIV, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets, and the Vice-President of the European Parliament, who even declared a hunger strike in protest against the situation, called for help for the residents of Oleshky.

After the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station in June 2023, about 90% of Oleshky's territory was flooded. The city continues to be regularly shelled. It remains unknown whether the announced truce will genuinely allow food and medicine to be delivered to people and allow those who wish to leave safely.

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