Melania Trump Brokers Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire, Adviser Breaks News on Newsmax
Melania Trump Brokers Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire, Adviser Breaks News on Newsmax
First lady Melania Trump has successfully negotiated a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine to allow humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky, her senior adviser, Marc Beckman, revealed for the first time Friday on Newsmax's " National Report ."
Appearing live in the Newsmax studio, Beckman disclosed that representatives of both countries had signed the agreement just hours before his appearance, marking a significant humanitarian breakthrough in the nearly five-year war.
"Let me start by being very crystal clear: the first lady of the United States of America has successfully negotiated a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, localized in this region of Oleshky," Beckman told Newsmax.
The ceasefire, scheduled to begin Oct. 29, will allow Ukrainian and Russian civilian representatives to enter Oleshky, about 5 miles behind the front lines, to identify residents needing assistance and coordinate evacuations, Beckman said.
"It will bring humanitarian aid to the entire city, this includes medics, medicine, food, clean water," he said, noting the operation will include "an evacuation of the city of Oleshky as well."
Newsmax has been granted exclusive television access to accompany a delegation of Russian and Ukrainian observers entering Oleshky on Oct. 29.
Both Ukrainian and Russian officials agreed to allow Newsmax to document the humanitarian operation.
Beckman emphasized the immediacy of the breakthrough, revealing that the agreement had only just been finalized.
"As recently as this morning, I'm coming here, and the ink is still wet on the paper," he said.
He said the agreement had been signed just hours before his Newsmax appearance.
"So you're the first to know," Beckman said.
Oleshky, located in southern Ukraine's Kherson region, had about 24,000 residents before Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Fewer than 2,000 residents remain, primarily elderly civilians unable to escape, along with approximately 50 children.
Conditions have deteriorated dramatically, with residents facing severe food shortages, limited electricity, no running water, and no heat.
Roads around Oleshky are reportedly heavily mined and targeted by armed drones.
One route connecting Oleshky with nearby Radensk has become known as the "Road of Death" because it is littered with destroyed vehicles.
Beckman described an increasingly desperate humanitarian emergency.
"They're eating weeds and grass," he told Newsmax, describing reports of civilians struggling to survive.
In a statement released Friday, Melania Trump said her intervention was essential to prevent further suffering.
"The situation in Oleshky is dire. Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster," the first lady said. "Oleshky's remaining population is comprised primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food, and clean water."
"It was abundantly clear that without my intervention, the possibility to bring humanitarian aid into the city and to evacuate the elderly would be impossible."
Beckman revealed on Newsmax that the negotiations began after the first lady learned about Oleshky's humanitarian crisis during her Fostering the Future Together event held in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Her earlier efforts to reunite children separated from their families during the war helped establish direct communication channels with Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
The first lady has helped facilitate the reunification of 34 Ukrainian and Russian children with their families since the war began.
"Both sides formally recognized her as an intermediary and in writing, and they gave her the power to negotiate this ceasefire," Beckman said.
Beckman said the first lady spent more than a month negotiating with both governments to finalize the agreement.
The first lady said representatives from both countries will visit residents in their homes, assess their needs, and arrange transportation for those wishing to leave.
"Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination," Trump said. "I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine."
Newsmax cameras will document the operation, providing independent visibility into the evacuation process and whether residents' wishes are respected.
Although the agreement is limited to Oleshky and does not establish a broader ceasefire, Beckman expressed hope that it could lead to further diplomatic progress.
"Indeed, in my opinion, this is the first step towards everlasting peace between these two nations," he said.
Beckman said Ukrainian and Russian representatives were enthusiastic when signing the agreement, saying both countries' presidents had supported the first lady's efforts.
Nevertheless, he cautioned against assuming the humanitarian breakthrough would immediately produce a comprehensive peace agreement.
"My hope is that this ceasefire... creates a better peace within the region for Europe," Beckman said.
For now, the immediate priority remains delivering desperately needed supplies and providing a safe passage out of Oleshky.
The unprecedented arrangement puts Melania Trump at the center of a rare cooperative humanitarian effort between the warring nations
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