Russia and Ukraine agree local ceasefire in Oleshky, brokered by Melania Trump
Both sides say they will stop firing around the besieged Russian-occupied town from 27 October so aid can enter and civilians who want to leave can be evacuated.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed a localised ceasefire around Oleshky, a town in the Kherson region occupied by Russian forces since the first days of the 2022 invasion, so that humanitarian aid can be delivered and residents who wish to leave can be evacuated. The White House said the deal had been "successfully secured" by First Lady Melania Trump, who worked with a representative directly with Russian and Ukrainian leaders on its terms.
Kyiv and Moscow both confirmed the agreement and said their forces would stop firing at 02:00 GMT on 27 October; the White House statement gave 29 October as the start of the truce and did not say how long it would last. Civilian, non-military officials from both countries are due to visit residents at home to assess what help they need, and those who choose to leave will be taken either to Russia or to Ukraine.
Oleshky lies on the left bank of the Dnipro, caught between Ukrainian positions across the river and Russian forces to the east. Residents have described constant shelling, a single hospital working only a few days a week, malnourished children and people eating garden weeds to survive. Ukraine's foreign minister has called the situation a "full blockade", and the Kremlin acknowledged in September that the town faced a critical situation.
Davyd Arakhamia, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's party in parliament, said an operation to "unblock" Oleshky and its surroundings would begin soon, while the Kremlin's spokesman confirmed that people who want to leave will be allowed to. Reuters reported that the two sides also plan to hold further peace talks next month.