Melania Trump touts her diplomatic role as Russia-Ukraine peace eludes her husband
CNN · Betsy Klein ·
First lady Melania Trump hosted representatives from the highest levels of Russia’s and Ukraine’s governments at the White House on Thursday to celebrate the conclusion of a localized ceasefire — a humanitarian breakthrough, albeit limited, that came as President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war have so far failed.
First lady Melania Trump hosted representatives from the highest levels of Russia’s and Ukraine’s governments at the White House on Thursday to celebrate the conclusion of a localized ceasefire — a humanitarian breakthrough, albeit limited, that came as President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war have so far failed.
The brief ceremony — just two days after her husband’s massive midterm defeat that Republicans are blaming on his Iran war — highlighted the first lady’s positioning as a diplomat.
Melania Trump and her outside senior adviser Marc Beckman — whom she and the foreign representatives credited throughout Thursday’s event — negotiated the three-day ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in southern Ukraine that has been on the front lines of the war. Hundreds of civilians were evacuated, and humanitarian aid was brought in.