President Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, hosted a White House event on Thursday to commemorate a short ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky. She thanked Russian and Ukrainian officials during her remarks, but she did not mention her husband. The truce ended on November 1.
Melania Trump thanks Putin and Zelensky in new speech
Melania Trump told the audience the deal would not have happened without Vladimir Putin or Volodymyr Zelensky. She said their “cooperation establishes a meaningful precedent for advancing peace throughout the region.” She called the arrangement a “sophisticated ceasefire” and said she took part in each planning stage.
Her work included reviewing road conditions and discussing evacuation routes. The first lady said she first learned of the city’s humanitarian crisis in September and then served as an “exclusive intermediary.” The pause in fighting allowed aid to reach Oleshky. Nearly 800 people left the city over six days.
Kremlin special envoy Kirill Dmitriev said Melania played a crucial role in coordinating the operation and resolving the Oleshky “situation.” He also pointed to his own leader’s part. “President Putin personally gave all of the necessary instructions to ensure the successful implementation of the local ceasefire in Oleshky,” he said.
Dmitriev did bring up the president, saying Putin “appreciates President Trump’s peacemaking effort” in what he called the “Ukrainian crisis.” He then handed the first lady a drawing made by an 11-year-old.
On the other hand, Ukrainian politician David Arakhamia told the room Melania did an “amazing job.” Zelensky then gave her the Order of Princess Olga, 1st Class, the country’s top state honor for women. The first lady also spoke warmly of Ukraine’s parliamentary commissioner of human rights, citing the “incredible bravery and heart you show in serving your people every day.”
Before the officials left, Melania gave each delegation a personal letter to carry home. One was addressed to Putin and the other to Zelensky, with no mention of Donald Trump by his wife. Moreover, the event happened while the president has yet to deliver on his pledge to end the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s 2022 invasion. He had previously said he could stop the fighting on the first day of his second term.
