Melania Trump Signs Deal to Pause Fighting Around Oleshky

A localized ceasefire began at 4 a.m. Moscow time on Tuesday, pausing military operations around the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky. First lady Melania Trump brokered the agreement, which was signed on Oct. 23 in Belarus. The deal permits humanitarian convoys to enter the area and provides a safe route for residents who wish to leave.

Marc Beckman, a senior adviser to the first lady, stated that Trump spent weeks moderating between Russian and Ukrainian officials. He said she acted as their exclusive intermediary after gaining the trust of both governments. The agreement was formally signed by Tatyana Moskalkova, Russia's human rights commissioner, and Dmytro Lubinets, her Ukrainian counterpart. Fox News Digital obtained the signature pages from the document.

Oleshky is located across the Dnipro River from the Ukrainian-held city of Kherson. The city had a population of approximately 24,000 before Russia seized it during its 2022 invasion. Current estimates place the remaining population at roughly 2,000 people, many of whom are elderly. Russian forces use the city as a launch point for attacks on Kherson, while Ukrainian forces strike back at Russian positions. Roads are mined, and supplies of food and medicine are low. Yuri Sobolevsky, deputy chairman of the Kherson regional council, told The New York Times that the conditions in the city are terrible.

Beckman said Trump first learned about the crisis in September during U.N. General Assembly week. The issue was raised at an event she hosted. Prior to this mediation, her team had helped reunite 34 Ukrainian and Russian children with their families through six separate efforts. Ukraine authorized Trump to serve as its intermediary in a formal letter. President Vladimir Putin then granted her the same role for Russia in a separate letter. Beckman confirmed that both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were involved in the discussions. He described the U.S. delegation as small, noting that it consisted of just the first lady.

The negotiations involved detailed technical planning. Beckman said the teams reviewed maps, roadways, and aerial imagery. They agreed on which military equipment could enter the zone and how civilians would be evacuated. The plan even included arrangements for refrigerated trucks to transport bodies. The final schedule was mapped out by the hour. The signing ceremony was delayed by nearly three hours from its planned start time. Trump joined via video call, and the process was completed at 7:40 a.m. New York time.

The original start date for the ceasefire was Oct. 29, but both sides agreed to move the start two days earlier. The scope of the agreement was also expanded to allow humanitarian convoys safe passage through the surrounding Kherson region. Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, confirmed that Russian forces would stop firing along the Kherson axis. He stated that Russian troops would facilitate the movement of the convoys. The agreement does not halt fighting in other parts of Ukraine.

Civilians from both countries will lead the mission to keep troops separated. Four American journalists from Newsmax will accompany the mission to interview residents and document their decisions. The operation is expected to last about one week, with a target finish date in early November. Beckman said the sides could negotiate an extension if needed, with Trump taking part in those talks again.

The deal gives Trump a continuing role in the region. Russia and Ukraine are expected to set up regular humanitarian aid deliveries and repatriation efforts across the Kherson region after the Oleshky mission ends. These efforts will occur at least once a month with Trump's assistance and coordination.