Ukraine’s ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, and Russia’s Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova will attend a White House event on Nov. 5, where U.S. first lady Melania Trump will deliver remarks on the Oleshky ceasefire, a Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent.
However, the U.S. government has sanctioned Lantratova since 2022, and she cannot legally enter the country. She would need a sanctions waiver from the U.S. State Department.
Melania Trump was praised for helping broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia that lasted from 3 a.m. on Oct. 27 until 11 p.m. local time on Nov. 1 and allowed those civilians who wished to evacuate Russian-occupied Oleshky in Ukraine’s southern Kherson Oblast.
The White House announced on Nov. 3 that representatives from Ukraine and Russia would join the first lady for her remarks on the humanitarian operation in Oleshky. However, the White House did not specify which representatives, and neither Kyiv nor Moscow has commented publicly.
The humanitarian crisis in Oleshky, which has been under Russian occupation since 2022, worsened in mid-2026. Residents were deliberately deprived of food and water by Russian occupying forces and faced drone attacks when attempting to leave the town.
Under international humanitarian law, Russia is obligated to protect civilians living in territories under its occupation.
The first lady called the ceasefire a “success” and said “nearly 800 people” had been evacuated, but neither Ukraine nor Russia publicly confirmed exactly how many people left or where they relocated.
The Kremlin has publicly ruled out further such humanitarian operations in the foreseeable future.