Earlier this month, Trump also agreed a deal allowing Russia to supply diesel to the global market, in an apparent bid to lower prices ahead of the midterm elections.<\/a> The move, and his later waiving of sanctions, reversed years of American policy and raised alarm in Ukraine and Europe.<\/a><\/p>\n But in a rare intervention from the first lady, the White House quoted her as saying last week that Oleshky was \u201con the brink of disaster\u201d and its remaining population, composed primarily of elderly residents, was in urgent need of medical attention, medicine, food and clean water.<\/p>\n \u201cThe people of Oleshky have limited electricity, live amid mined roads, and endure regular military attacks,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was abundantly clear that without my intervention, the possibility to bring humanitarian aid into the city and to evacuate the elderly would be impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n Civilian representatives from both sides will visit the town, which had a population of around 24,000 people before the war, to determine the level of assistance the remaining residents require, the statement said. <\/p>\n An \u201cimpartial American media organization\u201d will document the process to ensure \u201cthat the wishes of each family are faithfully respected,\u201d it added. <\/p>\n Both sides blame each other for the crisis in Oleshky.<\/p>\n Kyiv has accused Russian forces of mining nearby roads and using the remaining residents as human shields to prevent Ukraine\u2019s army from conducting offensive operations in the town. Meanwhile, Russia has blamed Ukraine for \u201claying siege to the town\u201d with drone strikes and preventing humanitarian aid from getting in. <\/p>\n Last month, the Kremlin acknowledged problems with food and medical \u200bsupplies getting into Oleshky, saying its military was working to resolve them. <\/p>\n Ukrainian media has for months been featuring interviews with people who have managed to escape Oleshky and spoken to relatives of those who remain there \u2014 an estimated 2,000 people, including children. <\/p>\n Some said the town was on the verge of starvation and residents were relying on homegrown produce to survive. Others had reportedly resorted to eating grass. <\/p>\n With winter looming, fears of famine are growing in the town where communication is difficult because of a severely compromised internet and cellphone service in the area. <\/p>\n The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, which has been documenting the crisis <\/a>for months, said there have been no food deliveries to the town since the end of May. <\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792797117974_nn_ren_melania_trump_ceasefire_2010223_S3_1920x1080-3c7inm.jpg\")
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