Melania Trump Hosts Russian and Ukrainian Delegates at White House
The US First Lady advocated for a more permanent ceasefire after hosting officials from both nations following a recent humanitarian truce in Kherson.
By Isabella Kaur ·
US First Lady Melania Trump called for a more enduring ceasefire in Ukraine while welcoming Russian and Ukrainian delegations to the White House. This unusual gathering took place following a six-day truce in the southern Kherson region, which both Moscow and Kyiv credited Trump with helping to broker. During the event, she emphasized that the lives of innocent people must transcend the divisions of war, expressing hope that the recent pause in fighting in Oleshky would inspire broader peace.
The meeting brought together senior officials who are not part of the official US-brokered peace talks that have continued without success since last year. The Ukrainian delegation included human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and MP Davyd Arakhamia. The Russian side was represented by human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova and Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev. All parties expressed gratitude to Trump for her role in the ceasefire, conveying the thanks of their respective presidents.
Trump detailed her involvement during the truce, stating that she reviewed demining plans, aerial images, and evacuation routes. She noted that residents of Oleshky and neighboring areas experienced simple joys of life for the first time since 2022, walking familiar streets without the fear of explosions. She thanked both President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Vladimir Putin, though she made no reference to the origins of the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Kirill Dmitriev, a businessman and special envoy, thanked Trump for saving and touching many lives. He presented her with a framed drawing by an 11-year-old evacuee from Oleshky and praised her efforts to reunite children separated by the war, including those allegedly abducted by Russia. Davyd Arakhamia described the Oleshky ceasefire as the biggest de-escalation since 2022. He said that both sides are learning the mechanics of maintaining peace and urged Trump to continue finding new missions to de-escalate the conflict.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Trump handed two letters to Dmitriev and Arakhamia for delivery to their presidents. The White House announced that the guests also viewed two historic artifacts selected by Trump as symbols of peace. These included an 18th-century medicine chest removed from the White House after the British burned it in 1812, and a cup gifted to a French ambassador in 1899 for his role in ending the Spanish-American war.
Despite the high-level praise, Trump has generally remained discreet on foreign policy. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv has elaborated on the extent of her involvement in coordinating the ceasefire, which is considered the most enduring and widespread of the war so far. A source in the local government of Kherson told the BBC that work on the evacuation had been ongoing for nearly a year. The source noted that other individuals became involved after most of the groundwork was laid and subsequently took credit for the progress.
The source acknowledged that it was difficult to determine who played what role at which stage. They added that those directly involved in negotiations for nearly a year were eventually prohibited from communicating publicly about the matter. President Zelensky commented after the meeting that the success of the ceasefire proved that when Putin wants the fighting to stop, it stops. He made a similar point regarding Ukrainian prisoners held in Russian captivity.
A source close to American officials shared a similar assessment, implying that the person who made the ceasefire possible was essentially Putin. This, they suggested, was done to pass the ball to Donald Trump for a positive effect on his midterm elections. Ukrainian political analyst Dmytro Levus told the BBC that Russia's position had not changed. He said Moscow agreed to the truce due to pressure from the American side, confirming that Russia can quickly stop firing when necessary.
While the frontline region of Kherson enjoyed its first six days of peace in several years, the rest of Ukraine continued to face Russian attacks. This week, drone and missile strikes killed and injured civilians across the country. On Monday, more than 40 people were killed in a single Russian strike on an aid distribution centre in the Zaporizhzhia region, with more believed to be buried under the rubble.
