Melania Trump Hints She Could Visit Ukraine After Oleshky Truce

US first lady Melania Trump hinted that she might make a personal trip to Ukraine, amid reports that she brokered a ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky, according to The New York Post, as relayed by Ukraine's European Pravda.

Asked by the paper whether she would visit Ukraine, she said: "We'll see." President Donald Trump said that "it could happen." The two spoke to reporters in Palm Beach after casting early votes in the midterm elections.

The Oleshky truce

It was the first lady's first comment on the truce between Russia and Ukraine for the city of Oleshky, which she says she achieved. She said that as part of her work she spoke with both Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "We talked. We signed an agreement," she said.

The president said his wife is doing better than his professional envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. "I think now she is doing better than the professionals. She got a ceasefire. It concerns children, people and the elderly," Trump said.

On October 23, the White House announced that Melania Trump had secured a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city suffering a humanitarian catastrophe.

Questions about the pope's role

She received international recognition for her work, but on Saturday questions arose about the role of Pope Leo after it emerged that he had also phoned Zelensky and Putin to urge a truce in Oleshky. The pontiff contacted Putin on October 16 and spoke with Zelensky three days later, days before the first lady announced the deal.

Democrats accused Melania Trump of taking credit for the pope's work, but both Russia and Ukraine have confirmed her role in mediating the agreement. More in our politics coverage.