First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday gathered leaders from Russia and Ukraine at the White House following a ceasefire in Oleshky. The White House said the gathering is believed to mark the first time an American first lady has brought representatives of two nations at war together for diplomacy.
The ceasefire allowed the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region and the safe evacuation of nearly 800 people, according to the First Lady’s office.
Trump said she acted as an exclusive intermediary to secure the ceasefire. “My role as Exclusive Intermediary was memorialized in written agreements drafted and signed by both Russia and Ukraine,” Trump said. She said she reviewed demining plans, assessed roadways, and discussed evacuation routes and medical resources.
Ukrainian representatives presented Trump with President Zelensky’s award, Ukraine’s Order of Princess Olga, First Class. The White House said the award is the highest degree of the state honor and recognized Trump’s leadership in securing the ceasefire.
Trump said she began working on the effort in September, directing her representative, Marc Beckman, to engage with both countries. The agreements were signed on Oct. 23, 2026, according to her prepared remarks. Trump also noted that four American journalists entered the region to document the wishes of Oleshky’s residents, adding that Newsmax provided transparency and protection.
During the event, Trump gave letters she wrote for President Putin and President Zelensky to the attending officials to deliver. She said the ceasefire would not have been possible without the cooperation of the two presidents.
Trump also showed the guests two artifacts from the White House collection. The items included a late 18th-century medicine chest that was removed from the White House after British forces set the building on fire during the War of 1812, and an 1899 cup recognizing French diplomatic efforts to end the Spanish-American War.