WASHINGTON:
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a temporary ceasefire in the Russian-controlled southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations, following mediation by US First Lady Melania Trump, the White House said on Friday.
The ceasefire will enable humanitarian teams to enter the city, where residents have reported a worsening food crisis. Russian military chief of staff Valery Gerasimov said Russian troops would halt fire from 4am local time on Tuesday to facilitate the operation, while the White House said the ceasefire would begin next Thursday.
“Both nations agreed to temporarily stop all military action in Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway,” the White House said in a statement.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, David Arakhamia, said the humanitarian operation would begin once the ceasefire was in place. He said the agreement followed an extended process involving Melania Trump and Pope Leo and would establish a humanitarian corridor for residents seeking to leave the city.
The Kremlin welcomed the agreement, praising Melania Trump’s role and saying Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had discussed its details. Earlier this week, Moscow said efforts were under way to ease conditions in Oleshky after Putin told the pope he was ready to cooperate.
Melania Trump said the situation in the city was critical, with its remaining population consisting largely of elderly residents requiring urgent medical care, medicines, food and clean water. She said non-military teams from both countries would visit residents and coordinate transport for those wishing to evacuate to Russia or Ukraine.
An unnamed American media organisation will accompany the teams to document the operation. Right-leaning news outlet Newsmax said its cameras would have exclusive access to the effort.
Oleshky, occupied by Russian forces since February 2022, lies across the Dnipro River from the Ukrainian-held city of Kherson. Its population has fallen from about 24,000 before the war to between 1,700 and 2,000, including around 50 children.
