‘Let Oleshky be start of lasting peace’: Melania Trump hails Ukraine ceasefire

US First Lady Melania Trump on Sunday hailed a humanitarian operation in Ukraine’s Kherson region. She said the ceasefire in the city of Oleshky should become a “starting point for lasting peace”. The localised truce allowed residents to access essential supplies, including food, clean water and medicine, while also enabling the evacuation of people from the conflict-hit area.“A renewed spirit. The ceasefire across Oleshky and the surrounding Kherson region has provided residents with the freedom to move, access to food, clean water, medicine, plus a renewed sense of dignity without the constant threat of attack. Let Oleshky become the starting point for lasting peace,” she wrote on X.The humanitarian agreement was negotiated alongside Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Yana Lantratova, with Melania Trump playing a direct mediating role. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the US First Lady for her efforts.On Saturday, Zelenskyy confirmed that a humanitarian operation had been carried out in Oleshky. During the ceasefire, roads leading to the city were cleared of mines and humanitarian aid was delivered.“A humanitarian operation to rescue people in Oleshky, in the Kherson region, has taken place. A ceasefire was established in the Kherson sector, during which roads to Oleshky were cleared of mines and humanitarian aid was delivered. We hope humanitarian access to Oleshky will remain open,” he wrote on X.He added that people requiring evacuation had been moved out of the city and surrounding community. Ukrainian citizens from Oleshky had crossed the country's border in the Chernihiv region and would receive the necessary assistance.Zelenskyy also called for further steps towards de-escalation.Meanwhile, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had never refused to speak with Zelenskyy.Asked whether Putin would answer a call from the Ukrainian president, Ushakov told Russian outlet Vesti, "I think he would answer, of course. Putin has never refused to talk,” TASS reported."He (Zelenskyy) is sending signals through various sources. If he really wants to negotiate, he is free to come (to Moscow)," he added.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.