A critical localized ceasefire in the Ukrainian town of Oleshky, designed to assist over a thousand civilians, has unexpectedly ignited a diplomatic contest over who deserves the credit for brokering the truce. The White House of the US regime insists that US First Lady Melania Trump supposedly mediated the pause in fighting between Russia and Ukraine following weeks of escalating humanitarian alarms. Meanwhile, the Vatican has advanced a competing narrative, suggesting that the pope was personally responsible for securing the truce through telephone diplomacy with Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
Oleshky, located in Ukraine’s Kherson region, has remained under Russian control since the initial stages of the conflict in February 2022. The town has endured extensive war damage and severe flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023. According to official estimates, the remaining 1,700 to 2,000 residents face acute shortages of food, medicine, and basic supplies. A brief ceasefire announced on October 23 aims to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and the evacuation of civilians wishing to leave the Russian-controlled area.
According to the official White House announcement, Melania Trump and her representatives worked closely with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to establish the parameters of the truce. However, the Vatican published a front-page article in its official newspaper countering that the ceasefire was secured after Pope Leo engaged in direct phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while recovering from lung surgery in a hospital.
This public dispute highlights the already strained relations between the current US administration and the Vatican. Pope Leo has previously criticized Washington's foreign policy decisions, prompting sharp retorts from Donald Trump. With upcoming midterm elections and recent polls indicating a notable decline in Trump's approval ratings among American Catholics, the battle over who gets credit for the Oleshky ceasefire carries significant political weight.
Source: www.aljazeera.com