Ukraine, Russia share stage at Melania Trump's event, only Kyiv calls for more Oleshky-style missions
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Ukrainian and Russian officials stood side by side at U.S. first lady Melania Trump's White House event on Nov. 5 to mark the success of the Oleshky humanitarian operation, but only Kyiv's delegation called for more such efforts.
The first lady helped broker a localized ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia that lasted from Oct. 27 until Nov. 1, allowing civilians wishing to leave Russian-occupied Oleshky, in Ukraine's southern Kherson Oblast, to evacuate.
The Ukrainian delegation at the White House to commemorate the humanitarian operation's success included Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and David Arakhamia, the head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's parliamentary group. Representing Russia were Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Yana Lantratova, the country's commissioner for human rights.
The first lady praised what she called both countries' "shared commitment" to achieving a ceasefire and their "good faith efforts."
"Let Oleshky be the modest spark that grows into a flame of lasting peace," Melania Trump said in her remarks, presenting personal letters to be delivered to President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. She did not specify the contents of the letters.
The humanitarian crisis in Oleshky, which has been under Russian occupation since 2022, worsened in mid-2026. Oleshky residents faced severe shortages of food, drinking water, electricity, and medical supplies. Russian forces had effectively blockaded the town, preventing humanitarian organizations from delivering aid.
Dmitriev was invited to speak first after the first lady's opening remarks. The Kremlin envoy, who has helped draft Russian peace proposals effectively calling for Ukraine's capitulation, used his time at the podium to commemorate a Russian military deminer who had been killed while preparing the groundwork for the evacuation.
He also presented the first lady with a drawing from a young girl whose family had evacuated Oleshky — claiming that the family had chosen to go to Russia.
In his remarks, Dmitriev referred to the full-scale war as the "Ukrainian crisis" — a term that downplays the scope of Russia’s invasion — while adding that Putin "admires" U.S. President Donald Trump's peacekeeping efforts.
Lantratova, the most prominent Russian official involved in the Oleshky humanitarian operation, did not address the gathering. She has been under U.S. sanctions since 2022 and would have needed a waiver from the State Department to travel to Washington.
Arakhamia praised the humanitarian operation as "the biggest de-escalation" since the start of the full-scale war in 2022, adding that residents of nearby Kherson also benefited from the five-day ceasefire.
"We would like you to keep going and find new missions and de-escalate as much as possible," Arakhamia told the first lady. "Your mission is above politics."
Lubinets presented the first lady with Ukraine's Order of Princess Olga for humanitarian work not only in facilitating the evacuation of civilians from Oleshky but also in the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
Lubinets also urged Melania Trump "on behalf of the whole Ukrainian nation" to "keep doing this wonderful work."
The Kremlin has publicly ruled out further such humanitarian operations in the foreseeable future.
