Melania Trump hosts Russia-Ukraine talks, urges lasting ceasefire
US First Lady Melania Trump hosted a rare White House meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials on Thursday, calling for a "more enduring" ceasefire in Ukraine. The unprecedented talks aimed to build on a six-day truce in the city of Oleshky. Melania Trump said the envoys would carry personal letters to Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, urging them to use the Oleshky ceasefire as a foundation for broader peace. The truce, the longest since the 2022 invasion, allowed demining and civilian evacuations. The meeting precedes trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi next week, the first between Russia, Ukraine, and the US since February. Zelensky awarded Melania Trump a Ukrainian national honour for her role in brokering the ceasefire.