Melania Trump Hosts Russian, Ukrainian Officials at White House, Calls for Lasting Peace
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 8 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
US First Lady Melania Trump brought together Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House on Thursday to celebrate a recent six-day ceasefire she helped broker in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky, urging both sides to choose "humanity over war" ahead of planned peace talks. The rare face-to-face diplomatic event featured Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev meeting directly with Ukrainian representatives, marking the first in-person contact between Moscow and Washington since Tuesday's US midterm elections. A trilateral meeting involving officials from the United States, Ukraine and Russia is scheduled for November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi, while the Kremlin has indicated preparations are under way for a three-way summit between Putin, President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen from November 18-19.
Key Points
- Melania Trump hosted Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House on Thursday, calling for a "more enduring" peace as she championed the Oleshky ceasefire
- The first lady revealed she was "involved in every stage of the planning" of the temporary ceasefire, personally reviewing aerial images and assessing roadways and hospital access
- President Trump, who did not attend the event, previously lauded his wife's diplomatic efforts, telling reporters in October that "she does better than our professionals"
- The November 5 midterm elections delivered Democrats control of both the Senate and House, potentially complicating the administration's Ukraine policy starting in January
- The Democratic majority in Congress is expected to push for increased aid to Ukraine and scrutinize the administration's diesel deal with Russia and easing of certain sanctions
- Trump has recently intensified criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while the Kremlin expressed hope his peacemaking efforts would continue despite the Republican defeat
Why It Matters
The White House event represents a significant diplomatic milestone, with the first lady emerging as a key broker in efforts to end the three-year conflict that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022 . The outcome of the Abu Dhabi talks and potential Shenzhen summit could determine whether this tentative diplomatic opening leads to a sustainable peace agreement or collapses amid political headwinds in Washington .
The White House event represents a significant diplomatic milestone, with the first lady emerging as a key broker in efforts to end the three-year conflict that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022 . The outcome of the Abu Dhabi talks and potential Shenzhen summit could determine whether this tentative diplomatic opening leads to a sustainable peace agreement or collapses amid political headwinds in Washington .