Intelligence Agencies Secretly Negotiated Oleshky Evacuation Despite Claims of Melania Trump Mediation

POLICY WIRE — Paris, France — A humanitarian mission to move civilians out of Oleshky in the Kherson region was actually the product of direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian intelligence services, rather than the diplomatic efforts credited to the White House.

According to information obtained by Le Monde, Moscow had previously blocked requests for a humanitarian corridor to the city, but they eventually agreed in the summer of 2026 to engage in talks. These discussions involved Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) and the Main Directorate of the Russian General Staff (GRU).

These two military agencies already engage in regular communication to handle the exchange of prisoners of war and the recovery of fallen soldiers.

Following a four-month negotiation period, the human rights commissioners from both nations—Yana Lantratova for Russia and Dmytro Lubinets for Ukraine—organized the evacuation plan.

While the operation took place under U.S. oversight, it was publicly framed as a success of mediation by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.

A source in Ukraine advised viewing the claims regarding the First Lady’s involvement with caution, noting that the exact level of influence Washington exerted remains unclear.

Observers suggest that even if Melania Trump or other figures like the UN and Pope Leo XIV expressed concern for the residents of Oleshky, Kyiv and Moscow may have reached their agreement specifically to please Donald Trump, who seeks to be seen as a central peacemaker.

One source in Kyiv speculated that Trump, perhaps realizing he would not receive the Nobel Peace Prize himself, may have wanted to secure the honor for his wife instead.

Oleshky has been under Russian military occupation since 2022, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis in recent months.

Under the agreed-upon ceasefire and evacuation plan, approximately 700 people were moved out of the city, with some traveling to Ukraine at their own request and others being taken to Russia.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)