Melania Trump hosted Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House on Thursday to celebrate a six-day ceasefire she brokered in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky. The event, which saw the former First Lady presented with gifts from both delegations, marked her first public appearance following her husband's midterm election defeat.
"Together we can create something more enduring than a temporary ceasefire," Trump stated at the event. "Let us see Oleshky as a spark in a world of darkness capable of illuminating the best of humanity. Build a powerful flame of peace, visible to the world. Ignite hope, foster cooperation and brighten the path toward lasting peace."
The six-day truce, which began October 7 and concluded November 1, facilitated the evacuation of nearly 800 people before Russian officials declined an extension. Despite the ceasefire's end, humanitarian aid to Oleshky is expected to continue.
Kirill Dmitriev, representing the Russian government, praised Trump's efforts, stating, "President Putin also appreciates President Trump's peace-making efforts and his team working on a peace plan to resolve [the] Ukrainian crisis." Dmitriev presented Trump with a painting from an 11-year-old girl who had resided in Oleshky. "And this beautiful drawing says just three words, 'I love Melania,'" Dmitriev remarked.
Davyd Arakhamia, representing Ukraine and head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's Servant of the People party, conveyed his appreciation, telling Trump, "You did an amazing job." He noted that the initiative began with widespread skepticism but has since shifted, with "95 percent skeptics" now believing in its potential. Arakhamia added that the truce was significant as "both sides are learning this little mechanics, how to actually keep the peace when the peace comes."
Arakhamia presented Trump with the Order of Princess Olga, 1st Class, awarded by President Zelensky. In return, Trump gave envelopes to Dmitriev and Arakhamia to be delivered to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, respectively, advocating for a broader peace deal.
Trump's engagement with the Oleshky ceasefire followed her previous work reuniting Ukrainian children taken by Russian forces with their families, having facilitated the return of 34 children. The localized ceasefire announcement came after Trump learned of Oleshky's plight during a September trip to the United Nations General Assembly. The city has faced dire conditions since its capture by Russian forces in February 2022, with shortages of food, medical supplies, electricity, heat, and running water. The Kakhovka Dam collapse in June 2023, which flooded approximately 90 percent of the city, was attributed by the Associated Press to the Russian military.