Meeting between US First Lady Melania Trump and officials from Ukraine and Russia set for Thursday at White House
The meeting comes just weeks after Melania Trump helped broker a partial ceasefire that allowed civilians to evacuate from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky.
US First Lady Melania Trump is set to host a meeting at the White House on Thursday with officials from Ukraine and Russia, including human rights chiefs from both countries.
This high-level gathering comes just weeks after Melania Trump played a key role in brokering a partial ceasefire that allowed for the evacuation of civilians from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky. The humanitarian effort marked a rare moment of cooperation between the two warring nations.
The meeting is seen as a precursor to talks in Abu Dhabi, where diplomats will attempt to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, which has now entered its fifth year. Despite ongoing efforts to bring peace to the region, Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues to cause widespread devastation.
Russia's adviser on international economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, and human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova are among those scheduled to meet Melania Trump at the White House on Thursday. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, their meeting is contingent upon all logistical arrangements working out.
Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has announced that he will also be meeting Melania Trump in Washington. His trip to the US capital is part of a series of high-stakes diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
In a Facebook post, Lubinets asked his followers what message they would convey to the First Lady if given the chance. The question comes as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to engage in intense negotiations with US envoys ahead of next week's meeting in Abu Dhabi.
The White House has confirmed that Melania Trump will personally facilitate a meeting between representatives from Russia and Ukraine at the White House. This unprecedented gathering is seen as a significant step towards resolving the ongoing conflict between the two nations, which have been locked in a bitter dispute for months.
A localized truce between Ukrainian and Russian forces has allowed residents of Oleshky on the southern front to leave after weeks of suffering from food and medicine shortages. This rare halt in fighting was respected by both sides, enabling roads to be demined and facilitating the departure of residents for either Ukraine or Russia.
Melania Trump's office credited her with independently initiating engagement that led to a ceasefire in Oleshky and its surrounding Kherson region. Her significant personal contribution to humanitarian support for Ukraine has been acknowledged, as well as her active involvement in human rights and charitable work.
The White House was expected to host Ukrainian and Russian officials, marking an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by an American First Lady.
Facts based on reporting originally published by France 24 English.
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