A local ceasefire in a southern Ukrainian city under Russian occupation appeared to be holding on Tuesday, with both sides stopping drone attacks ahead of an expected evacuation of about 2,000 trapped and desperate civilians. The temporary truce began at 3am in Russian-controlled Oleshky. The city sits on the Dnipro River, about 3 miles (5km) from Kherson, a larger city on the opposite bank. Ukrainian troops recaptured Kherson in autumn 2022.
Witnesses reported that the deadly frontline across the river was quiet for the first time in four years. Ukrainian officials said the pause in fighting is due to last until 11pm on Sunday and represents a significant, if limited, moment of de-escalation.
Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, and Norway’s prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, held what they described as a “frank and substantive” phone call with Vladimir Putin about efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Støre indicated afterwards that major differences remained. The two Nordic leaders said the call – a rare instance of direct contact between Putin and western leaders – was linked to upcoming talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US, expected to take place in Abu Dhabi next month.
The ceasefire in Oleshky appears to be an attempt by the Kremlin to win favour with Donald Trump before the trilateral meeting and next week’s US midterm elections. The first lady, Melania Trump, requested the humanitarian mission and said in a post on X that it was brought forward by two days to allow the delivery of critical aid. She added that its geographical scope had been extended beyond Oleshky “within the Kherson region” to provide safe passage for convoys. Calls for a ceasefire were also issued by Pope Leo, the United Nations, EU officials and the Council of Europe.
Between 1,500 and 2,000 people in the city have been living under a complete Russian blockade. The last food delivery to stores was in May, and many people are now starving and eating weeds. The Ukrainian military has airdropped food using drones, but locals say Russian security forces detain anyone who takes it. Russian soldiers have mined roads and use ruined buildings to coordinate round-the-clock strikes against Kherson. Some Oleshky residents have managed to escape, walking or cycling past bodies lying in the street and the burnt-out shells of vehicles.
Ukrainian observers say the Kremlin is planning a major propaganda tour this week in which Kyiv is blamed for Oleshky’s destruction. Trump-supporting US media channels have been invited to witness the evacuation, in which buses will take residents to occupied Crimea and Russia.
Ksenia Arkhipova, who fled the city in 2022 and now volunteers to help others leave, said some residents have told her they fear Russian officials may “filter out” evacuees with pro-Ukraine views. “People say they are genuinely afraid that the Russians will check their phones and look for evidence of Ukrainian relatives or ties to the Armed Forces of Ukraine – something they have done repeatedly in other occupied territories,” Arkhipova told the Associated Press.
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. It hit a university campus, wounding students, as well as a bridge over the Dnipro and metro infrastructure. Ten other regions came under fire. The bridge remains closed to traffic, but some commuters walked across it to get to work. Writing on social media, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia “must stop dragging out this war” and said he welcomed European attempts to end it.Morning’s main headlines from the Europe edition, emailed direct to you every weekday. Enter your email. Sign up. After newsletter promotion.
He said Stubb and Støre had briefed him on their call with Putin. “Alex and Jonas clearly conveyed to the Russian leadership the need for genuine steps towards de-escalation, particularly when it comes to our energy sector and infrastructure,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The Finnish-Norwegian initiative comes amid growing efforts by some European nations to establish a direct channel of communication with Moscow and secure a stronger European voice in negotiations. Stubb and Støre said they took part in the call as leaders of their respective countries and were not speaking on behalf of Europe as a whole.
European governments remain divided over whether direct engagement with Putin is worthwhile, given that Russia’s maximalist demands remain stubbornly unchanged. There is little agreement on who should lead such talks. Stubb is seen by some EU officials as a candidate.
View image in fullscreen. Left to right: Alexander Stubb, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo on 20 October. Photograph: Heiko Junge/EPA.
The divisions were laid bare shortly after news of the call emerged, when Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, criticised the move. “I am very sceptical about this independent initiative by Norway and Finland. It was not agreed with any of us,” Frederiksen said.
She added: “I see no signs that Russia wants peace with Europe – neither in the hybrid warfare it wages every day, nor in Ukraine, where brutal and aggressive strikes continue daily, claiming many lives.”
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said the Europeans had offered “nothing new” and were simply trying to insert themselves into the negotiation process.
This month Putin said he was willing to resume peace talks, but only on Russia’s hardline terms. They include the handover of the entire eastern Donbas region, including parts Russia has been unable to seize since 2014, as well as further territory in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces.
Last week Zelenskyy said he was open to a peace agreement that would freeze the war along the current frontlines. “Yes, we are ready to stop this war as soon as possible,” he said in an interview with ABC News. He made clear that Ukraine would not recognise land seized and occupied by Russia as Russian.
Frequently Asked Questions
Heres a set of FAQs about the Oleshky truce the European leaders call with Putin and the surrounding context
1 What is the truce in Oleshky
Its a local ceasefire in and around the town of Oleshky in Ukraines southern Kherson region which has been under Russian control since 2022 The truce is meant to halt fighting in that specific area
2 Where is Oleshky
It sits on the left bank of the Dnipro River directly across from the city of Kherson Its a small town but strategically important because of its position near the front line
3 What does it mean that the truce seems to be holding
It means that so far reports suggest the fighting has largely stopped and both sides are mostly respecting the pausethough this is based on early unconfirmed reports
4 Who are the two European leaders on the call with Putin
Reports dont name them in your headline so its best to check the latest news Such calls typically involve leaders from countries active in diplomacy on Ukraine such as France Germany or Finland
5 What does a frank call mean
In diplomatic language frank is code for a tough direct conversation where differences were aired openly It usually signals the talks were not friendly or easy
6 Why does a local truce matter if the war continues elsewhere
Even small pauses can save lives allow civilians to evacuate or get aid and create momentum for wider talks They can also serve as test cases for whether both sides can keep agreements
7 Is this truce part of a bigger peace deal
Not necessarily Local truces are often limited temporary arrangements They can be a first step toward broader negotiations but they dont guarantee one
8 What are the main risks to the truce holding
Spoilers on either side accidental clashes mistrust and fighting spilling over from nearby front lines Local ceasefires are fragile and often collapse without monitoring
9 How would anyone know if the truce is being broken
Through reports from local officials journalists satellite imagery and monitoring groups Independent verification is hard in war zones so claims should be treated cautiously
