The White House said Friday that first lady Melania Trump helped broker a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the battered city of Oleshky. The agreement is intended to open a path for humanitarian assistance and the evacuation of civilians trapped amid dire conditions.

The ceasefire is scheduled to begin Oct. 29. The White House said Trump initiated the discussions and worked with a representative directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to settle the terms.

The agreement is localized, with its purpose focused on bringing aid into Oleshky and allowing civilians to leave. Neither the Ukrainian government nor the Russian government offered an immediate comment after the White House announcement.

Trump has made children caught in conflict one of her signature issues as first lady. Earlier this year, she hosted a U.N. Security Council meeting focused on the issue.

She also personally wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin about reuniting children displaced by the war with their families. The Oleshky talks represent another instance of her direct involvement in humanitarian issues arising from the conflict.

The planned pause comes as residents face extreme shortages and a devastated city infrastructure. Food and medical supplies have been scarce in Oleshky for months, leaving civilians with few resources as winter approaches.

Oleshky sits on the Dnipro River, which separates Ukrainian forces from the Russian occupiers controlling the city. Its location along Ukraine’s southeastern front has left those who remain exposed to the continuing dangers of the war.

Residents have no electricity, heat or running water. The roads leading out of the city are mined, severely limiting the ability of civilians to escape without an organized evacuation.

Burned out cars are scattered along those roads, while threatening drones continue to buzz overhead. Together, those conditions have made both daily survival and departure from the city extraordinarily dangerous.

Oleshky once had a population of about 24,000. Moscow’s forces captured the city on the first day of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The destruction continued after the occupation began. Buildings were shelled and burned, while essential infrastructure throughout the city sustained serious damage.

Another disaster struck in June 2023 when floodwaters overwhelmed Oleshky after the Kakhovka Dam collapsed following an explosion. The resulting inundation added another layer of devastation to a city already battered by warfare and occupation.

An Associated Press investigation found that the explosion was likely caused by the Russian military. The collapse and subsequent flooding killed hundreds of residents, according to the source account.

Those who remain in Oleshky now face the threat of death from hunger or disease. Another harsh winter is looming, with civilians still lacking basic utilities, adequate supplies and safe routes out.

Ukraine has repeatedly appealed for a local ceasefire so evacuations could be organized. Until the agreement announced by the White House, Russia had made no commitment to such a pause.

As the occupying power, Russia is obligated under international law to ensure that civilians under its control have what they need to survive. The White House says the Oct. 29 ceasefire will finally create an opening for aid deliveries and civilian evacuations from the stricken city.