The key facts
- Dmitry Peskov called the combination of political and humanitarian contacts with the US “a very good practice”
- The White House summed up the results of the humanitarian operation in Alyoshky: according to the American administration, almost 800 people were evacuated
- The next round of talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine is scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi
The Kremlin has approved the new format of contacts with Washington
The Kremlin has positively assessed the format of Russian-American contacts in which the humanitarian initiatives of US First Lady Melania Trump go hand in hand with high-level political negotiations. This was stated at a briefing by Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov, answering journalists' question about the combination of political and humanitarian interaction between Moscow and Washington: “They complement each other wonderfully; this is a very good practice”.
The White House discussed the results of the humanitarian operation in Alyoshky
The reason for the assessment was two meetings held by Russian presidential special envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Washington — first with Melania Trump and then with Donald Trump himself. The day before, Dmitriev took part in an event at the White House organized by the US First Lady to sum up the results of the humanitarian operation in Alyoshky, Kherson region. Besides Dmitriev, Russia was represented by Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova, and Ukraine by the head of the Servant of the People faction David Arakhamia and ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.
The ceasefire regime made it possible to evacuate almost 800 people
A distinctive feature of the meeting was that representatives of the two conflicting states gathered at the White House thanks to agreements on a temporary ceasefire. The silence regime was in effect from October 27 to November 1 and made it possible to deliver food, medicine and other cargo to Alyoshky. According to the American administration, almost 800 people were evacuated during the operation. Dmitriev thanked Melania Trump on behalf of Vladimir Putin and emphasized that the Russian president had personally given instructions for fulfilling the humanitarian agreements.
Meeting with Trump and gifts from the First Lady
After the event, Dmitriev met separately with Donald Trump. The American president confirmed the fact of the conversation but did not disclose its contents; at the same time, he expressed hope for a swift end to the Ukrainian conflict and allowed for the possibility of preparing a large-scale agreement affecting not only Ukraine but the security system of all of Europe. The next round of trilateral talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine is scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi.
Exchange of gifts and letters
The humanitarian meeting was accompanied by an unusual exchange of gifts. As Life.ru reported, Kirill Dmitriev presented Melania Trump with a painting by 11-year-old Lidiya from Alyoshky, who had moved to Tuapse, with the inscription “I love Melania.” The Ukrainian delegation presented the First Lady with the Order of Princess Olga, First Class, for her contribution to the humanitarian mission. Melania Trump herself prepared personal letters for Putin and Zelensky: she handed the message to the Russian leader to Dmitriev, and the one to the Ukrainian leader to Arakhamia. The contents of the letters are not disclosed, but the First Lady expressed hope that the experience of cooperation in Alyoshky would become a starting point for broader peace agreements.
