US-brokered truce holds in Oleshky as Russia strikes elsewhere

· Security · Ukraine · Russia

A local ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region appeared to be holding, with Russia and Ukraine reporting no violations after several hours. The truce aims to provide aid to residents and help those who wish to leave safely; the city has had no electricity, gas or water for three years. Meanwhile, Russia continued missile and drone attacks on cities elsewhere in Ukraine, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store held a "frank and substantive" call with President Vladimir Putin on peace talks, drawing a sceptical response from Denmark's prime minister.

Why it matters：The truce offers a rare humanitarian opening in a war with no broader settlement, while European leaders' direct outreach to Putin tests whether diplomacy can gain traction.

Key points

  • Neither side reported violations after several hours of the truce.
  • Oleshky has lacked electricity, gas and water for three years.
  • Finland and Norway's leaders held a call with Putin; Denmark's PM was sceptical.

Sources (original reporting)

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