The Oleshky ceasefire, which lasted from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2, allowed hundreds of residents facing starvation and constant bombardment to evacuate. It also enabled humanitarian aid to be delivered and roads to be demined. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said the truce would not have been possible without the cooperation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Melania Trump said she had reviewed demining plans, aerial images, and evacuation routes during the truce. “The lives of innocent people must transcend the division of war,” she said. “I hope Oleshky inspires greater peace.” She handed letters to envoys Dmitriev and David Arakhamia to be delivered to Putin and Zelenskyy, respectively.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy awarded Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga, First Class, for her role in brokering the Oleshky ceasefire. The award was presented by Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets during the White House meeting.

Melania Trump invited the delegations to view two historic artifacts symbolizing peace: an 18th-century medicine chest and a cup gifted in 1899 for ending the Spanish-American War. The White House described these as “powerful symbols of peace.”

The meeting comes ahead of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the Ukraine war. U.S. President Donald Trump held an unscheduled meeting with Dmitriev, a move that has raised concerns about shifting U.S. policy.

Melania Trump has played an increasingly visible but unofficial diplomatic role in the Ukraine conflict since 2025. While the details of her involvement in the Oleshky ceasefire remain unspecified, her efforts have been praised by both Russian and Ukrainian officials.