Melania Trump hosts Ukraine, Russia officials, calls for ‘more enduring’ truce

Melania Trump, the wife of U.S. President Donald Trump, convened a White House gathering on Thursday with representatives from Russia and Ukraine to honor a recent six-day truce she facilitated in Oleshky, a Russian-controlled city. The gathering came after U.S. officials intensified efforts to finalize a deal aimed at ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which erupted following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

A trilateral meeting involving officials from the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia is scheduled for November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi.

In her address, the first lady emphasized the importance of choosing humanity over war, stating that the courage demonstrated in Oleshky should inspire the creation of lasting solutions through shared concern for the suffering of innocent people. "Together, we can create something more enduring than a temporary ceasefire," she added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, participated in the event and met with U.S. officials, according to sources familiar with his plans. Ukrainian lawmaker David Arakhamia and Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, also attended the gathering. The visit marked the first in-person contact between Russian and U.S. officials since the recent midterm elections, in which Democrats gained control of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, potentially impacting President Trump’s policies.

The incoming Democratic majority in Congress is expected to prioritize providing more aid to Ukraine and scrutinizing several decisions made by the Trump administration, including a diesel deal with Russia and the relaxation of certain sanctions. In recent weeks, Trump has been more critical of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Kremlin has expressed hope that Trump will continue his peace efforts despite the Republican Party’s electoral setback. Additionally, preparations are underway for a meeting between Putin, Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, from November 18-19.

Dmitriev had previously met with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in the White House in 2025. Unlike his successor Joe Biden, Trump did not extend invitations to any Russian officials to the White House. Dmitriev has been instrumental in facilitating the release of American detainees in Russia, reunifying Ukrainian children with their families, and organizing humanitarian operations in Oleshky.