Local ceasefire brokered by Melania Trump starts in southern Ukraine

In this undated image from video provided by the Ukrainian 34th Separate Marine Brigade "Borysfen" on Sept. 22, 2026, smoke rises from a residential neighborhood in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in the Kherson region of Ukraine. Ukrainian 34th Separate Marine B/via AP hide caption Ukrainian 34th Separate Marine B/via AP MYKOLAIV, Ukraine — A localized ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia took effect early Tuesday ahead of a humanitarian mission brokered by U.S. first lady Melania Trump, as missile attacks resumed in Kyiv. The local pause in fighting started at 3 a.m. to allow an aid mission into the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine later this week. According to her office, Melania Trump led talks with civilian negotiators from Russia and Ukraine after meeting with U.N. officials who briefed her on the situation in the town. The aid mission is planned ahead of a new round of U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine expected next month aimed at ending the war after more than 4½ years of fighting. Up to 2,000 people are stranded in Oleshky with dwindling food and medicine. They are unable to leave because of explosive mines and drone attacks in the are...