Melania Trump to Convene Russian and Ukrainian Representatives at White House

Melania Trump will bring Russian and Ukrainian representatives together at the White House, the U.S. administration announced on November 3. The first lady is scheduled to deliver remarks about the ceasefire in Oleshky, southern Ukraine, at 11 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, November 5. The White House credited her engagement with the two countries with securing the localized ceasefire in Oleshky and the surrounding Kherson region. Its announcement did not name the representatives who would attend the White House encounter. In an October 23 statement, the White House said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt military action temporarily in Oleshky to allow humanitarian supplies to enter and preparations for civilian evacuation through a designated safe passage. It said Melania Trump and a representative had worked directly with both countries' leadership on the arrangements. Discussing residents' possible destinations, she said: "I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine." That earlier statement described civilian teams assessing residents' needs at their homes and coordinating transport for people wishing to leave. It said residents needed medicine, food and clean water, while limited electricity and mined roads complicated conditions. The White House placed Oleshky across the Dnipro River from Kherson and said the diplomatic communication channel had previously supported six reunifications involving 34 children.