Washington is set to host a rare face-to-face meeting between representatives of Ukraine and Russia on Thursday, when US First Lady Melania Trump welcomes officials from both warring nations to the White House. The encounter comes just days before broader talks in Abu Dhabi, which are expected to bring together all three sides for the first time since February.
According to Russia's state-owned TASS news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Kirill Dmitriev, Moscow's adviser for international economic cooperation, and human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova plan to meet Melania Trump on Thursday, "provided that all logistical arrangements work out." Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, also announced he would be travelling to Washington for the meeting.
"I am heading to Washington. Important meetings lie ahead. But while I am on the road, I want to ask you something: If you could convey a single message to US First Lady Melania Trump, what would you say to her?" Lubinets wrote on Facebook on Wednesday, signalling the unusual nature of the diplomatic engagement.
A first lady's diplomatic debut
The White House meeting follows a rare halt in fighting that Melania Trump helped broker last month, allowing civilians to evacuate from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in the southern Kherson region. The localised truce, which was respected by both sides, permitted roads to be demined and residents to depart for either Ukraine or Russia after weeks of severe shortages of food and medicine.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the First Lady the Order of Princess Olga, First Class, in recognition of her "significant personal contribution to humanitarian support for Ukraine, and for active human rights and charitable work." The decree, published on the Ukrainian presidential website, specifically cited her role in securing the ceasefire in Oleshky and the surrounding area.
Melania Trump's office described the achievement as "an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by an American First Lady," noting that she "independently initiated engagement" to secure the truce. The First Lady is expected to speak at the White House at 11:00 am (1700 GMT) on Thursday.
European stakes in the peace process
The diplomatic push comes as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine grinds through its fifth year, with European capitals closely watching the evolving US role. The recent rapprochement between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised concerns in Brussels and other European capitals that Washington might soften its support for Kyiv. European leaders have repeatedly stressed that any peace deal must not come at the expense of Ukraine's sovereignty or European security.
Zelenskyy said he had held "very detailed, hour-and-a-half-long" conversations with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of next week's Abu Dhabi meeting. Those talks are seen as a crucial step towards a broader ceasefire, though significant obstacles remain, including territorial disputes and security guarantees.
The White House meeting also comes against a backdrop of domestic political turmoil in the United States, with President Trump facing a midterm rout that has weakened his position at home. European analysts have warned that a weakened Trump could turn more aggressive abroad, adding uncertainty to the Ukraine peace process.
Meanwhile, the human cost of the war continues to mount. Just this week, rescuers dug for survivors after a Russian strike on a Ukrainian aid centre, underscoring the fragility of any localised truce. The Oleshky ceasefire, while significant, remains limited in scope, and European officials are urging all parties to build on it.
For now, the White House meeting offers a glimmer of hope that direct communication channels between Moscow and Kyiv remain open, even as the broader conflict shows no signs of abating. Whether the Abu Dhabi talks can translate this momentum into a lasting peace remains to be seen.
