RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS MEET MELANIA TRUMP

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 5 /SRNA/ – Russian presidential special envoy Kirill Dmitriev met Ukrainian officials at the White House today. The meeting was hosted by US first lady Melania Trump to mark a local ceasefire she had brokered in the town of Oleshky.

Speaking at the White House, Dmitriev thanked Melania Trump for her humanitarian role in securing the ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

President Donald Trump did not attend the ceremony.

Dmitriev said Russian President Vladimir Putin had personally instructed him to thank the first lady for her mediation.

Ukrainian human rights ombudsman David Arakhamia also attended the ceremony at the White House.

Melania Trump said she hoped the halt to hostilities in the devastated town of Oleshky would lead to something more lasting than a six-day ceasefire.

The White House announced on October 23 that the first lady had brokered a ceasefire in Oleshky so that humanitarian aid could be delivered and civilians evacuated.

The ceasefire lasted from October 27 to November 1. It was the most significant truce since the conflict began more than four years ago.