WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 05: First lady Melania Trump delivers handwritten letters to Russian special envoy and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitrievon (left) and Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets (center) to deliver to their presidents during an event on a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine at the White House on November 5 2026 in Washington, DC.
Samuel Corum/Getty Images
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Samuel Corum/Getty Images
First lady Melania Trump hosted a rare meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House to recognize a temporary ceasefire in southeastern Ukraine.
The six-day pause in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky comes as the administration steps up efforts to reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
“We chose humanity over war,” the first lady said. “Undeniably, the lives of innocents must transcend the divisions of war. I hope Oleshky inspires greater peace.”
Trump accomplished something that had until now eluded her husband: helping negotiate a temporary ceasefire and bringing together representatives from both sides to recognize the human cost of the war.
The White House sees this as a diplomatic step forward, but some European analysts fear these efforts could backfire.
The temporary reprieve, which expired on Sunday, allowed humanitarian aid to reach the city while allowing the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
Kirill Dmitriev, special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, thanked the first lady. He said Putin personally gave instructions to ensure the successful implementation of the ceasefire.
“On behalf of President Putin, on behalf of the people of the Russian Federation, we would like to thank First Lady Melania Trump for her distinguished humanitarian role in resolving a key situation and resolving this humanitarian problem,” he said.
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets presented Melania Trump with an award for her humanitarian work. The Order of Princess Olha, 1st Class, is the highest honor awarded to women in Ukraine.
“I have only one request from the entire Ukrainian nation,” Lubinets said, “please continue doing your wonderful work and support the people.”
The event comes just days before the United States leads a new round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi next week.
President Trump also met with Dmitriev at the White House.
Trump told reporters the sides were close to reaching an agreement.
“It will be a deal. It will be an important deal, and it will involve more than just Ukraine,” he said. “I could even say that it could involve all of Europe. It will be a big, beautiful deal, and everyone will be delighted.”
Heather Conley, who worked on European issues in President George W. Bush’s State Department, supports all efforts to help the suffering Ukrainians, but she also said the United States must be careful not to normalize Russia’s bad behavior.
“At this White House ceremony, we honored the Russians who were behind the occupation and famine of Oleshky, and now we honor them for allowing aid to arrive in Oleshky,” said Conley, who is now a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. “The more we create this equivalence where Russians and Ukrainians are equal in this crisis, it shakes things up.”
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