Melania Trump welcomes Russian and Ukrainian officials following localized truce

Melania Trump, US President Donald Trump’s wife, joined representatives from Russia and Ukraine on Thursday at a White House event to recognise a recent six-day ceasefire she helped broker in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky. The event followed US officials’ ramped-up efforts to secure a deal to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began when Russian forces invaded Ukraine in early 2022. A trilateral meeting with officials from the US, Ukraine and Russia is planned for...

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Nov 5, 2026, 21:43 UTC

A grand diplomatic room in the White House prepared for negotiations, with an empty conference table and flags in soft lighting. — REAL NEWS HUB

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US first lady Melania Trump gathered diplomatic envoys from both Ukraine and Russia at the White House on Thursday to mark a temporary six-day pause in fighting that she played a role in negotiating.

The gathering acknowledged the localized ceasefire arranged in Oleshky, a city currently held by Russian forces. During the event, the first lady advocated for a more lasting cessation of hostilities between the two warring nations.

The gathering comes amid an intensified push by American authorities to negotiate a broader settlement to the conflict. The war has been ongoing since Russian military forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

Diplomatic engagements are scheduled to continue in the coming days. Representatives from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia are slated to take part in three-way discussions scheduled for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi, according to reports.

The temporary halt in fighting in Oleshky represents a rare point of direct diplomatic involvement for the first lady, fitting into broader ongoing international efforts to bring a negotiated end to the multi-year war.

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