Oleshky truce appears to hold as two European leaders have ‘frank’ call with Putin

The temporary truce began at 3am in Russian-controlled Oleshky, a city on the Dnipro River about 3 miles from Kherson, which Ukrainian troops recaptured in autumn 2022. Witnesses reported that the deadly frontline across the river was quiet for the first time in four years.

The pause in fighting is due to last until 11pm on Sunday, Ukrainian officials said, and represents a significant if limited moment of de-escalation. Between 1,500 and 2,000 people in the city have been living under a complete blockade by Russia, with the last delivery of food to stores occurring in May.

European Leaders' Putin Call

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 big differences remained.

Humanitarian Crisis

Many Oleshky residents are now starving and eating weeds, with Ukrainian forces airdropping food using drones. Locals report that Russian security forces detain anyone who takes the aid. Russian soldiers have mined roads and use ruined buildings to coordinate round-the-clock strikes against Kherson.

The evacuation is due to begin on Thursday or Friday following a request by Melania Trump. The Kremlin appears to be attempting to curry favor with Donald Trump ahead of the trilateral meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the US expected in Abu Dhabi next month and next week's US midterm elections.

Continued Fighting 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. It hit a university campus, wounding students, as well as a bridge over the Dnipro and metro infrastructure.

Ten other regions came under fire as Russian forces continue their campaign despite the local truce. The bridge in Kyiv remains closed to traffic, with some commuters walking across it to get to work. Zelenskyy wrote that Russia "must stop dragging out this war" and welcomed European attempts to end it.

European Divisions

The Finnish-Norwegian initiative comes amid growing efforts by some European nations to establish direct communication with Moscow. European governments remain divided over whether direct engagement with Putin is worthwhile, with Denmark's prime minister Mette Frederiksen criticizing the move.

Putin has said he is willing to resume peace negotiations only on Russia's hardline terms, including the handover of the entire eastern Donbas region and further territory in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces. Zelenskyy has stated Ukraine is ready to stop the war but would not recognize land seized by Russia.