Zelensky on Oleshky: Situation Is Extremely Difficult, Hopes US Mediation Will Work

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his video address that an agreement has been reached on unblocking Oleshky. The town lies in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region, and its residents are cut off in a combat zone. The president expressed hope that US mediation will deliver results, but acknowledged that the situation is extremely difficult because the occupying forces have mined the roads.

Zelensky stressed that implementation should happen soon. According to him, Ukraine hopes to carry out a humanitarian operation so that food and medicine can be delivered to the town and people can leave the combat zone. He said the matter had been negotiated for some time and at various levels. The president stated that Ukraine would fulfil its part and said he expects American mediation to work.

Background

The general staffs of Ukraine and Russia announced on Friday evening that a ceasefire would take effect in a designated area from the night of 27 October to allow a humanitarian operation in occupied Oleshky.

The White House stated that US First Lady Melania Trump had secured a truce between Russia and Ukraine in the town, which it said is suffering a humanitarian catastrophe. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia had agreed to a ceasefire for the humanitarian mission. Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada's Commissioner for Human Rights, confirmed that the humanitarian operation and ceasefire will take place on 29 October.