Melania Trump to host Russian and Ukrainian officials at White House before Abu Dhabi peace talks

US First Lady Melania Trump will host officials from Russia and Ukraine at the White House on Thursday, ahead of peace talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the Ukraine war. The meeting follows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarding her a national honour for brokering a partial ceasefire. Russia's adviser Kirill Dmitriev and human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova plan to meet Melania Trump, pending logistical arrangements, while Ukraine's Dmytro Lubinets announced he would also attend. Zelenskyy held detailed talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of next week's Abu Dhabi meeting, the first three-sided talks since February. Melania Trump independently initiated the localised truce in Oleshky and the Kherson region last month, allowing civilian evacuations after weeks of shortages. The ceasefire, respected by both sides, enabled road demining and resident departures. She has also been involved in efforts to return Ukrainian children taken to Russia.