Melania Trump hosted representatives from Russia and Ukraine at the White House on Thursday to acknowledge a recent six-day ceasefire she helped broker in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky. The gathering occurred as US officials intensified efforts to reach a deal to end the conflict that began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

During the event, the first lady stated, “We have chosen humanity over war.” She urged for a lasting resolution, saying, “We must use the courage we brought to Oleshky to find common ground through a shared concern for the suffering of innocent people.” She added, “Together, we can create something more enduring than a temporary ceasefire.”

The event included Ukrainian lawmaker David Arakhamia and Dmytro Lubinets, the country’s human rights ombudsman. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev also attended and met with US officials, according to two people familiar with his plans. This visit represented the first in-person contact between Russian and US officials since the midterm elections on Tuesday, where Democrats ousted Republicans from control of the US Senate and the House of Representatives in a blow to President Trump.

The Democratic majority, set to begin in January, is widely expected to push for increased aid to Ukraine and scrutinize Republican Trump administration decisions, including a diesel deal with Russia and the easing of certain sanctions.

Looking ahead, a trilateral meeting with officials from the US, Ukraine and Russia is planned for November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the Kremlin stated that preparations are underway for a meeting between Putin, Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit from November 18 to 19 in Shenzhen, China.

The Kremlin expressed hope that Trump would continue his peacemaking efforts despite the Republican Party’s defeat. Dmitriev, who previously met with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House in 2025, has been involved in humanitarian operations in Oleshky, the reunification of Ukrainian children with families, and the release of American detainees in Russia. Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, did not invite any Russian officials to the White House.