Melania Trump to Host Russian and Ukrainian Officials at White House Ahead of Abu Dhabi Peace Talks
US First Lady's meeting brings representatives of Moscow and Kyiv together, as Ukraine awards her a national honor for helping secure a humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — US First Lady Melania Trump is set to host Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House on Thursday, in an unusual diplomatic initiative ahead of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi next week aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine, which has entered its fifth year.
The planned meeting will bring together representatives from two countries still engaged in a devastating conflict, highlighting a parallel humanitarian diplomatic effort as Washington pursues renewed negotiations involving Moscow and Kyiv.
According to Russia's state-owned TASS news agency, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Moscow's adviser for international economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, and Russia's human rights ombudsman, Yana Lantratova, are expected to meet Melania Trump on Thursday, provided that logistical arrangements are finalized.
Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, also confirmed that he was traveling to Washington for meetings with the first lady.
"I am heading to Washington. Important meetings lie ahead," Lubinets wrote on Facebook on Wednesday, inviting Ukrainians to suggest messages they would like him to convey to the US first lady.
Melania Trump's office had previously confirmed that she would personally bring representatives of Russia and Ukraine together at the White House, describing the initiative as an effort involving two nations actively at war.
The meeting comes as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict gain renewed momentum. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that he had held "very detailed, hour-and-a-half-long" discussions with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of next week's meeting in Abu Dhabi.
The upcoming negotiations are expected to bring representatives of Russia, Ukraine, and the United States together for the first time since February, raising cautious hopes for progress toward a diplomatic settlement.
However, recent rapprochement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has also fueled concerns in Kyiv and among its Western partners over the future direction of Washington's support for Ukraine.
Humanitarian ceasefire earns Ukrainian honor
Earlier Wednesday, Zelensky awarded Melania Trump Ukraine's Order of Princess Olga, First Class, recognizing her contribution to humanitarian assistance and efforts to protect human rights during the war.
A decree published on the Ukrainian presidential website cited her "significant personal contribution to humanitarian support for Ukraine, and for active human rights and charitable work."
The recognition follows her involvement in securing a localized ceasefire around Oleshky, a Russian-controlled town in the southern Kherson region, which enabled civilians to leave after weeks of shortages of food and medicine.
Melania Trump announced last month that Ukrainian and Russian forces had agreed to the temporary halt in fighting following her diplomatic engagement. The truce, which was respected by both sides, allowed roads to be cleared of mines and residents to evacuate toward either Ukrainian- or Russian-controlled territory.
Her office said she had independently initiated contact to help secure the ceasefire in Oleshky and surrounding areas, describing the outcome as an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by an American first lady.
Beyond the localized truce, Melania Trump has also been involved in humanitarian efforts to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war, an issue that remains among the most sensitive aspects of the conflict.
She is expected to deliver remarks at the White House at 11:00 a.m. local time (1600 GMT) on Thursday.
The initiative highlights how humanitarian diplomacy has emerged as a parallel channel to formal negotiations, particularly on issues involving civilian protection, displaced populations, and the return of children.
While the White House meeting does not itself constitute a peace negotiation, bringing Russian and Ukrainian representatives together could provide an additional avenue for dialogue as Washington seeks a broader agreement to end the war.