The key facts

  • Melania Trump is personally organizing a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian representatives at the White House on November 5
  • Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and Russian representatives Kirill Dmitriev and Yana Lantratova are expected to attend
  • The meeting takes place on the eve of talks in Abu Dhabi — the first between all three sides since February

Meeting at the White House

US First Lady Melania Trump is hosting officials from Moscow and Kyiv at the White House on Thursday, November 5. Her office previously stated that she would 'personally bring together representatives of Russia and Ukraine, two countries at war, at the White House.' Reports on this were published by AFP and euronews.

Who is taking part

On the Russian side, according to Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov, adviser on international economic cooperation Kirill Dmitriev and human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova plan to attend the meeting — 'provided that all logistical issues are resolved'; this was reported by the state agency TASS. Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced that he will also meet with Melania Trump in Washington, and asked his Facebook followers what they would like to pass on to the First Lady.

The Order of Princess Olga and the ceasefire in Oleshky

On the eve of the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree awarding the First Lady the Order of Princess Olga, First Class — for her 'significant personal contribution to humanitarian support for Ukraine and active human rights and charitable activities.' Trump's office said she 'independently initiated engagement' to achieve a ceasefire in Oleshky and adjacent areas of the Kherson region. The localized ceasefire, which the First Lady announced last month, allowed residents of the city on the southern front — who had been short of food and medicine for weeks — to leave it; the ceasefire was observed by both sides, the roads were demined, and residents could leave for either Ukraine or Russia. The First Lady's office called it 'an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by an American First Lady.' Trump is also involved in efforts to return Ukrainian children deported to Russia.

Context: talks in Abu Dhabi

The White House meeting comes amid revived hopes for peace: Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is in its fifth year, and the recent rapprochement between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has raised concerns that the US could turn away from Kyiv. Zelensky said he held 'very detailed, hour-and-a-half' conversations with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of the meeting in Abu Dhabi next week — the first talks between all three sides since February. Trump was scheduled to speak at the White House at 11:00 am; AFP gave the time as 16:00 GMT, while euronews said 17:00 GMT.