Melania Trump brokers Oleshky truce as Ukraine faces Starlink slowdown

The White House confirmed on Friday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt military operations in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky starting October 27. First Lady Melania Trump brokered the arrangement, with her representative negotiating directly with leaders from both nations. The pause is designed to allow aid delivery and the evacuation of roughly 2,000 civilians who have endured severe shortages of food, water, and electricity since February 2022.

The truce addresses a deepening humanitarian crisis in the southern Ukrainian town. Residents have reported surviving on weeds, boiled grass, and limited rations. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets stated on Friday that the mission will include demining access roads and delivering sufficient aid to meet local needs. He emphasized that officials aim to extend these efforts beyond a single event and potentially to other nearby settlements.

Ukraine has used drones for weeks to airdrop emergency supplies into Oleshky. The new agreement allows for more structured support. Melania Trump said that residents wishing to leave will receive coordinated transportation to their preferred destinations, anticipating that some will choose to go to Russia while others head to Ukraine. This diplomatic move follows earlier claims by Ukrainian officials that Moscow had rejected previous calls for a pause, as well as appeals from Pope Leo XIV and the United Nations.

Separately, Ukrainian forces are experiencing ongoing disruptions to the Starlink satellite network. Speeds remained capped at approximately 100 mph throughout Friday, according to Ukrainian officials. This limitation prevents military equipment, including drones, from maintaining connectivity at high speeds. The issue hampers offensive drone operations and reduces the ability to intercept incoming Russian attacks, despite President Donald Trump's earlier claim that the restrictions had been lifted.

The Starlink slowdown began last week after Trump and Elon Musk publicly criticized President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over strikes on Russian oil refineries. Both Trump and Musk have denied responsibility for the technical changes. Trump told reporters on Friday that he had heard the issue was fixed but would speak to Musk if it persisted. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also pressed Trump in a phone call to ensure Ukraine maintains full access to the satellite service.

Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert advising Zelenskyy, stated that no lifting of the restrictions had been observed. The connectivity problem has contributed to strained relations between Kyiv and Washington, which have also been affected by a temporary suspension of US intelligence sharing. These tensions emerged after the US lifted sanctions on Russia and began importing Russian diesel to lower domestic energy prices ahead of midterm elections.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced on Friday that three tankers were en route to the US, with potential October supply reaching 500,000 metric tonnes. Meanwhile, Russia launched another overnight barrage on Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the US are expected to resume in Abu Dhabi in November. President Vladimir Putin told state television on Thursday that the territories lost by Kyiv are Russia's historical lands and insisted Moscow would achieve its invasion objectives.