US first lady Melania Trump plans an event at the White House today where she will comment on her efforts to secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Melania "independently initiated efforts" to ensure "a ceasefire in Oleshky and the surrounding Kherson region", her office said in a statement, a few hours before the appointment scheduled for 11am local time (5pm in Italy).
“We are preparing for a team-level trilateral format between Ukraine, the United States and Russia, which will take place in less than a week,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reports on X.
A Ukrainian drone hit a logistics center belonging to the Russian online retail giant Ozon in the Republic of Adygea, southern Russia. All employees evacuated. Russian raid on Odessa: damage to houses and road surfaces. Moscow's military carried out drone attacks on a ship in the port of Odessa that was delivering goods for the Ukrainian army, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that the Russians will not participate in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships to be held next month, despite the reinstatement decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Carney made it clear that, due to the war in Ukraine and the support provided by Belarus, representatives of those nations will be excluded."
"We just had a very detailed hour and a half conversation with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. We are preparing for a team-level trilateral format between Ukraine, the United States and Russia, which will take place in less than a week." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reports on The meeting focused on post-war reconstruction. Tomorrow, again in Brussels, a further discussion on security guarantees for Ukraine will be held. Negotiations must proceed at full speed to end this war as quickly as possible. Ukraine is ready to take the necessary steps; our proposals are clear and we have already presented them to the American side", the Kiev leader then explained. "Air defense represents a fundamental priority, which we have discussed extensively. We need interceptors for Patriot systems, which are essential to protecting lives from Russian attacks. We must also continue work on all bilateral fronts with the United States, in particular in the context of the drone agreement. Ukraine is grateful to the United States for its support of our independence, our people, and our diplomatic efforts. There is no alternative to peace and security guarantees for the post-war period must be absolutely solid and inviolable. We are working to make this a reality," he concluded.
"The elections may have changed the political balance, but they have not changed our priorities." The Ukrainian chargé d'affaires in the United States, Denys Sienik, told Ukrinform, hoping that Kiev will maintain strong bipartisan support in both houses of Congress after the midterms. The diplomat urged Republicans and Democrats to step up aid and "increase pressure on Russia to take concrete steps instead of continuing to kill innocent Ukrainians and undermine the unity of our partners." “We will continue to work closely with the administration of President Donald Trump, confident that the United States has the global leadership and influence necessary to ensure a just and lasting peace,” he added. Sienik cited the recent Russian attack on a school in the Zaporizhzhia region, which reportedly killed 40 civilians, and raids on electricity infrastructure as proof that Moscow does not intend to end the conflict: "Russia's war against Ukraine is far from over and must be stopped."
US first lady Melania Trump plans an event at the White House today where she will comment on her efforts to secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. the first lady "independently initiated the effort" to guarantee "a ceasefire in Oleshky and the surrounding Kherson region", her office reported in a statement, a few hours before the meeting scheduled for 11am local time (5pm in Italy). Last month Melania Trump announced a localized truce between Ukrainian and Russian forces to allow residents of Oleshky on the southern front to evacuate after suffering weeks of food and medicine shortages. The unprecedented truce, respected by both sides, allowed the demining of the roads and the departure of residents towards Ukraine or Russia. “This achievement marks an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by an American first lady,” her office reiterated in the statement. The first lady has also been involved in efforts to return Ukrainian children brought to Russia.
