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Kremlin confirms Oleshky ceasefire, says working with Ukraine on evacuation timing

By Thomson Reuters Oct 23, 2026 | 10:35 AM

MOSCOW, Oct 23 (Reuters) – The Kremlin on Friday confirmed that a US-brokered local ceasefire agreement had ​been struck regarding the ‌Russian-controlled town of Oleshky and said that the Russian and Ukrainian militaries were working to determine the dates for ‌implementing ​it.

The White House said ⁠earlier on Friday ⁠that US first lady Melania Trump had secured the ceasefire, which it said would begin on ​October 29.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that all ⁠civilians wishing to ⁠leave Oleshky would be allowed ​to do so and that the ​evacuation operation itself was expected to ‌take at least several days.

Peskov praised Melania Trump’s role in securing the agreement, something he said had ⁠been discussed in a recent phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and ⁠US ‌President Donald Trump.

“We welcome the ⁠efforts of the First ​Lady ‌of the United States, ​Mrs Melania ⁠Trump, who has made a significant contribution to the coordination of the humanitarian operation,” Peskov said.

(Reporting by Dmitry AntonovWriting by Maxim RodionovEditing by ​Andrew Osborn )