An unprecedented meeting hosted by US First Lady Melania Trump aimed to build on a six-day localised ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky, which she had announced last month amid the humanitarian crisis caused by the war.
Addressing reporters, Melania Trump urged the parties to build on the temporary truce and work towards a lasting peace agreement, stressing the need to address the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.
“Together, we can create something more enduring than a temporary ceasefire,” she said.
The Slovenian-born former model said she was sending the envoys back with personal letters addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
She described the Oleshky ceasefire, which she said was the longest pause in fighting since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as a potential starting point for broader peace efforts.
Melania Trump also credited Putin and Zelensky for their cooperation, saying their involvement had established an important precedent for advancing peace in the region.
The temporary halt in fighting, reportedly respected by both sides, enabled authorities to clear landmines from roads and allow residents to leave the area for either Ukraine or Russia.
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev thanked Melania Trump on Putin’s behalf for what he described as her significant humanitarian contribution to securing the Oleshky truce. He also acknowledged her efforts to reunite children separated from their families during the war, including children allegedly taken to Russia.
The White House meeting also brought together Russian human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova and her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Lubinets, who established a working relationship during the Oleshky ceasefire.
Both officials had visited the devastated town and jointly addressed the media about efforts to evacuate residents and deliver humanitarian assistance, marking an unusual instance of cooperation between the two countries.
Melania Trump’s diplomatic initiative comes ahead of trilateral talks scheduled for next week in Abu Dhabi, involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States. The discussions are aimed at finding a way to end the war and would be the first such meeting between the three countries since February.
The upcoming negotiations have raised hopes of progress towards ending the prolonged conflict. However, improving relations between US President Donald Trump and Putin have also prompted concerns that Washington could reduce its support for Kyiv.
Donald Trump had pledged to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office in January 2025, but his peace initiatives have remained intermittent, with the conflict involving Iran also drawing much of his attention this year.
Meanwhile, Zelensky said he had held a detailed 90-minute discussion with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of the Abu Dhabi negotiations.
The Ukrainian president also awarded Melania Trump a national honour in recognition of her role in facilitating the Oleshky ceasefire. Lubinets personally presented the award at the White House.
According to a decree published on the Ukrainian presidential website, Melania Trump was awarded the Order of Princess Olga, First Class.
Melania Trump first drew international attention in October 2025 when she disclosed that she had established a confidential communication channel with Putin to help reunite children separated from their families by the war.
Since then, she has assumed a growing, though largely behind-the-scenes, diplomatic role in efforts related to the Ukraine conflict.
