This perilous situation caught the attention of Leo, who called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct. 16 to express his “deep concern” and urge a pause in fighting to allow evacuations and aid deliveries.
The first lady’s office said she learned of the city’s plight during a United Nations gathering in September and used contacts developed through her efforts to reunite Ukrainian children with their families to help broker the truce. Both sides have praised her contribution.
The ceasefire was announced Oct. 23 and took effect Tuesday. It is due to expire at 10:59 p.m. Sunday, Kyiv time (3:59 p.m. ET).
Asked if the truce could be used as a blueprint for ceasefires in other locations, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalist Monday that “for humanitarian purposes — it absolutely could.”
That was “especially given the direct, highly positive, and coordinating involvement of the American side — American negotiators and U.S. First Lady Melania Trump — in this process,” he added. “We greatly value these efforts, and, certainly, this could set a precedent.”
Outside this relative pocket of calm, however, the war ground on.
Ukraine’s air force said Russian strikes had hit 17 locations overnight, while its air defenses had shot down or suppressed 96 drones and three missiles.
Meanwhile, drone manufacturer Fire Point said Ukraine had used its FP-1 drones to strike the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region. Ukrainian officials have not commented.
