US First Lady Melania Trump has not ruled out a personal visit to Ukraine, the New York Post writes.
“We’ll see,” she replied when asked whether she was planning a trip to Ukraine.
President Donald Trump himself added: “It may well happen.” It is noted that the couple spoke to journalists in Palm Beach after voting in the early congressional elections.
Melania Trump also thanked Pope Leo XIV for his support — amid controversy over the pontiff’s role in negotiations on a local ceasefire in Oleshky, in the Kherson region, to deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate civilians.
“The First Lady spoke out for the first time about the ceasefire — an agreement which, she said, she brokered between Russia and Ukraine regarding the city of Oleshky, which was facing the threat of famine. Trump said that as part of her work she spoke both with Russia’s President Putin and with Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy,” the publication notes.
“We talked. We signed an agreement,” Melania said.
Trump said his wife was doing better than his official envoys — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the NYP adds.
“I think she’s doing better now than the professionals. She secured a ceasefire. This is about children, about people, about the elderly,” the president said.
The publication notes that the American First Lady’s work has received international recognition, but on Saturday questions arose about the Pope’s role. It emerged that he had also called Zelenskyy and Putin, urging a ceasefire. These conversations took place a few days before Melania Trump announced that an agreement had been reached.
The pontiff contacted Putin on 16 October, and three days later spoke with Zelenskyy.
“It’s wonderful that there is support from the Pope; the ceasefire regime begins on 27 October, and I hope everything goes according to plan,” Trump said.
Democrats accused Melania Trump of taking credit for the Pope’s work, but both Russia and Ukraine confirmed her role in reaching this agreement.
- On 23 October, the White House released a statement that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to temporarily halt hostilities in Oleshky in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region, to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid and prepare the evacuation of civilians via a safe corridor. The local ceasefire is due to begin on 29 October 2026.
- About 1,700 people remain trapped in the devastated city of Oleshky in the Kherson region, and Russia is trying to turn the settlement into a deadly trap.
- Ukraine has repeatedly called for safe evacuation and international humanitarian access. Russia ignored Ukraine’s calls.
- On 23 October, Davyd Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, said that in the near future an operation to unblock Oleshky and the surrounding areas would begin, along with the creation of permanent humanitarian corridors for the safe evacuation of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
- Details of the operation, as well as information on its progress, will be provided by Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.