Oleshky Ceasefire Set for October 27 as Russia and Ukraine Plan New Peace Talks

Russia and Ukraine have both agreed to stop fighting in the occupied town of Oleshky from 4 a.m. local time on October 27. The pause is meant to let aid enter and allow civilians to leave along safe corridors, with roads cleared of mines first. The White House says only 1,700 to 2,000 people remain, down from 24,000 before the war, and most are elderly residents short of food, water and medicine. Melania Trump helped broker the deal, and Pope Leo had also discussed the town’s conditions with Zelenskiy and Putin.

New Peace Talks Planned in Abu Dhabi or Switzerland

Zelenskiy says negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States will hold technical meetings in early November in Abu Dhabi, though a US official named Switzerland as another option. He wants a leaders’ meeting to follow, along with firm security guarantees and ten years of funding for his army. Earlier talks stalled in February because Russia still demands all of Donbas, while Kyiv refuses to give up land it holds.

Starlink Limits, Russian Diesel and a Prisoner Swap

Ties between Washington and Kyiv have been strained by speed caps on Starlink, in place since October 13, and by a deal allowing Russian diesel into US markets. Trump says he will sort out the Starlink issue if needed. Meanwhile, each side freed 270 servicemen, the first exchange since August.