Oleshky ceasefire appears to hold as Stubb and Støre hold 'frank' call with Putin
A local ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky appeared to be holding on Tuesday, with both sides halting drone attacks, while Finland's president Alexander Stubb and Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre described a 'frank and substantive' phone call with Vladimir Putin.
Oleshky ceasefire appears to hold as Stubb and Støre hold 'frank' call with Putin
Quiet frontline in Oleshky
The Oleshky ceasefire appeared to be holding on Tuesday, with both sides halting drone attacks across the Dnipro River. The temporary truce began at 3am in the Russian-controlled city, and Ukrainian officials said the pause in fighting is due to last until 11pm on Sunday.
Witnesses said the frontline across the river was quiet for the first time in four years. Oleshky sits about 3 miles from Kherson, a larger city on the opposite bank that Ukrainian troops recaptured in autumn 2022.
- The truce applies to Oleshky alone; it does not cover the rest of Ukraine
- Officials on the Ukrainian side set the end point at 11pm on Sunday
A 'frank and substantive' call with Putin
Finland's president Alexander Stubb and Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a phone call with Vladimir Putin that they described as 'frank and substantive'. It was a rare instance of direct contact between Putin and western leaders, and Støre indicated afterwards that big differences remained.
The two leaders said the call was linked to upcoming talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US expected in Abu Dhabi next month. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Stubb and Støre briefed him on the conversation and wrote that Russia 'must stop dragging out this war', welcoming European attempts to end it.
Alex and Jonas clearly conveyed to the Russian leadership the need for genuine steps towards de-escalation.
The initiative comes as some European nations seek a direct channel with Moscow and a stronger European voice in negotiations. Stubb and Støre said they spoke as leaders of their own countries and not on behalf of Europe as a whole. Denmark's prime minister Mette Frederiksen was critical of the approach.
I am very sceptical about this independent initiative by Norway and Finland. It was not agreed with any of us.
Life under blockade in Oleshky
Russian forces have sealed off Oleshky completely, and between 1,500 and 2,000 residents are trapped inside. Shops received their final food delivery in May, and locals describe people starving and resorting to eating weeds.
- Ukrainian forces drop food parcels by drone, but taking one means risking detention by Russian security forces, according to residents
- Drivers face explosives planted on the roads, while soldiers work from damaged structures to direct strikes on Kherson around the clock
- People who fled the city left by walking or riding bicycles, threading their way past corpses in the streets and burned-out cars
The White House said first lady Melania Trump requested the humanitarian mission, and an evacuation is due to begin on Thursday or Friday. Trump-supporting US media channels have been invited to witness it.
War continues elsewhere
The ceasefire does not extend to other parts of Ukraine. Overnight, Russia bombarded Kyiv with drones and ballistic missiles, killing at least one person and injuring 15.
- A university campus was struck and students were among the wounded, along with a bridge spanning the Dnipro and metro infrastructure
- Fire was directed at ten other regions as well
- With the damaged bridge shut to vehicles, some commuters are crossing it on foot to reach work
The evacuation from Oleshky is due to begin on Thursday or Friday, and trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US are expected in Abu Dhabi next month.
