Localised truce holds in Kherson: Melania

KHERSON:

Russia and Ukraine began observing a localised ceasefire in a devastated southern Ukrainian city on Tuesday, ahead of a planned humanitarian mission that the White House said was brokered by US first lady Melania Trump. The first lady said that the ceasefire has been expanded beyond the Russiancontrolled Ukrainian city of Oleshky within the Kherson region. The humanitarian truce in and around the Russianoccupied city is a highstakes operation for Moscow and Kyiv, which are both keen to win US President Donald Trump’s favor after 4 ½ years of war. “Timing was accelerated two days ahead of schedule to protect the safety of civilians and to facilitate the delivery of critical humanitarian aid. “The ceasefire’s geographic area has expanded beyond Oleshky, within the Kherson Region, to provide safe passage for the humanitarian convoys,” Trump said on US social media platform X. Earlier attempts at limited ceasefires quickly unraveled or never took hold due to the deep mistrust between Russia and Ukraine.