WASHINGTON—First Lady Melania Trump on Nov. 5 called for peace between Russia and Ukraine during a White House meeting with representatives from both countries.
The gathering occurred after a temporary ceasefire between the two nations in the Kremlin-controlled city of Oleshky expired on Nov. 1. The first lady helped secure the six-day pause to facilitate humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations in Oleshky and the surrounding Kherson region, the White House said in a statement.
“We have chosen humanity over war,” the first lady said during the event as she welcomed both representatives. “I hope Oleshky inspires greater peace. Every significant transformation begins with a small spark.”
The event marked a major diplomatic initiative amid the conflict between the two countries. The White House announced the meeting on Nov. 3, describing it as an “extraordinary moment in American history.”
The attendees included Kirill Dmitriev, special envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and David Arakhamia, a Ukrainian lawmaker and negotiator.
“Now, we must use the courage we brought to Oleshky to find common ground and shared concern for the suffering of innocent people,” Melania Trump said. “Together, we can create something more enduring than a temporary ceasefire.”
She delivered individual personal letters addressed to Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the meeting with the representatives.
She said the localized ceasefire would not be possible without both leaders’ help.
Speaking at the event, Dmitriev said Putin “appreciates President Trump’s peacemaking effort and his team working on a peace plan to resolve [the] Ukrainian crisis.”
Other attendees at the White House event hosted by the first lady included Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and his Russian counterpart, Yana Lantratova, who oversaw the evacuation of Oleshky.
At the event, Ukrainian representatives gave Melania Trump Ukraine’s Order of Princess Olga, 1st Class, one of Ukraine’s highest state decorations for women, praising her leadership and humanitarian work in Ukraine.
During the ceasefire, Ukraine reported evacuating 167 civilians to safer areas of the Kherson region.
Meanwhile, Russia provided a convoy of 25 buses to transport 750 people, Russian news agency TASS reported.
The White House earlier stated that about 1,700 to 2,000 residents were in Oleshky, mostly older people.
“The mission was a success, delivering critical aid to the region and enabling the evacuation of nearly 800 people,” the first lady said in a Nov. 1 post on X.
She commended both Russia and Ukraine, saying that she hoped the move “serves as a foundation for lasting peace between both nations.”
The diplomatic effort came after a decisive Democratic victory in the midterms this week, which gave the party control of both the House and Senate. Before the election, Trump stated he wanted to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
On Nov. 2, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff announced on X that Washington will mediate a new round of trilateral working-level talks between Ukraine and Russia scheduled for Nov. 10–11 in Abu Dhabi.
“Discussions will focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward peace,” Witkoff wrote.
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