The White House has announced that US First Lady Melania Trump will meet with representatives of Russia and Ukraine at the president's residence on November 5. According to the agency, she personally initiated contacts between the two warring parties and achieved a ceasefire in Oleshky and the surrounding areas of Kherson. The White House called this step an "unprecedented diplomatic initiative by the US First Lady."
White House Meeting and Speech on the Truce
According to the White House statement, Melania Trump herself will "personally bring together" representatives of the two countries currently engaged in an armed conflict. The first lady's speech on the truce in Oleshky is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, at 11:00 AM US Eastern Time. The event will take place directly at the White House.
The Truce in Oleshky as a Result of the Initiative
The agency noted that the first lady initiated contacts between Russia and Ukraine herself and achieved a ceasefire in Oleshky and adjacent areas of the Kherson region. The White House characterizes this outcome as an unprecedented diplomatic initiative, emphasizing Melania Trump's personal role in its implementation.
Context: Abu Dhabi Talks on November 10–11
The meeting at the White House precedes a broader round of contacts: US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff previously reported on talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi scheduled for November 10–11. According to him, the US will act as mediators, and the parties will discuss post-war security agreements, de-escalation, and humanitarian issues at the working level.
Kyiv's Stance: Zelenskyy Urged Pressure on the Kremlin
Against the backdrop of preparations for these contacts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview with PBS NewsHour, characterized relations with US President Donald Trump as "emotional." He urged the American authorities to exert pressure on the head of the Kremlin rather than Kyiv, which highlights the difference in emphasis that the parties place within the diplomatic process.
