Melania Trump urges durable Ukraine ceasefire at White House meeting

Melania Trump called for a more durable ceasefire in Ukraine on Thursday while hosting Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House, urging a broader peace inspired by a recent six-day truce in the occupied city of Oleshky. The first lady said she chose "humanity over war" and that the temporary armistice, which she helped mediate, should spark wider transformation. She sent letters to Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, crediting their cooperation as an important precedent for regional peace. Ukraine's ombudsman awarded Trump a national distinction for her role in the ceasefire, which enabled civilian evacuations and demining. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev thanked her on behalf of Putin and also met with US officials on the event's sidelines.