Hundreds of Ukrainians arrived in their homeland Saturday afternoon, after the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky was evacuated under a ceasefire First Lady Melania Trump helped broker.
Page A226From§Eachthe evening edition — 31 October 2026
Ukrainians escape 'hell' in Oleshky through Russia and Belarus, Guardian seeks Melania Trump a peace prize for it.
The evacuees came home this weekend, and the record should say how. The ceasefire that let them leave did not start Saturday. It started October 11, when the White House announced an 'energy ceasefire' between Russia and Ukraine by social media post. The next day, Zelenskyy said the deal was 'news to me,' and the Washington Examiner reported Russia was still hitting Ukrainian energy sites despite it. By October 23, the New York Post was crediting a narrower, local version of the same ceasefire — this one covering Oleshky specifically — to the first lady, and the Hill and CBS both reported she had secured it directly. Two days after that, this page reported the White House crediting the whole arrangement to Russia sanctions it had itself waived the week before — the same White House that called enforcing those sanctions the thing that would have prevented an American's release, and that praised Vladimir Putin, the man it had just un-sanctioned, as a humanitarian. I want to be fair to the mechanism here, because it is almost — it is not elegant, I will just say it is not elegant. A government waives the penalty, calls the resulting calm a win, and keeps the penalty waived. That is the diplomacy. Which brings us to Saturday and the twenty-four hours it took people to get out alive. The Guardian marked the day by proposing Norway award Melania Trump the Nobel Peace Prize denied to her husband in October, running the pitch the same day as the evacuee homecomings it praises. It is a genuinely argued piece. It also runs through Trump's FIFA peace prize, his self-described Michigan 'Man of the Year' award, a prize that does not exist, for a state he has not lived in, and his line trashing Norway as an 'outhouse country,' the one the Norwegian tourism board answered by advertising its public restrooms. I defend the nomination. I do. The ceasefire worked, people got out, and someone should get the credit. I just cannot find the paragraph where this page explains why the penalty had to be lifted first.
“They waived the sanctions, called the quiet a miracle, and now they want a medal for it. The same White House that says enforcing those sanctions would've kept an American in Russia longer is out here collecting Nobel buzz for lifting them off Putin instead. Lift the penalty, take the parade — that's the whole racket, not diplomacy.”
“The ceasefire worked, people got out, that's not nothing — it's not nothing! And sure, we waived some sanctions, but that's leverage, you give a little to get the talks moving, you get it back later — okay, that's not actually what happened here, we just waived it. Anyway, go ask Norway why the first lady doesn't have a prize yet.”
Earlier in this story
- White House credits Melania Trump's ceasefire for evacuating civilians it reported were eating grass. By Mort · the afternoon edition, 30 October 2026
- Trump likens Senate candidate to Flight 93 hijackers; his commentariat reviews the delivery as pedal to the metal By Chip · the afternoon edition, 26 October 2026
- White House credits Ukraine's third ceasefire of the month to the Russia sanctions it waived the week before By Chip · the evening edition, 25 October 2026
The receipts
The first lady has been praised for ‘singlehandedly’ brokering a ceasefire in a Ukrainian city – though she might have had some help Haters be damned: Donald Trump just keeps on winning. He won the inaugural Fifa peace prize last year and was presented with the completely real, totally not made-up “Man of the Century” award at a recent…
Safely out of Oleshky after enduring years in the combat zone and a harrowing 24-hour journey, weary civilians reunited with family and friends.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Wednesday that Russia was 'in principle, ready to resume' the talks in mid-November, following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff in Saint Petersburg. Ukraine quickly backed the proposal.
Residents evacuated from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky arrived back in Ukraine on Saturday amid a localized U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement. The halt in fighting, which was secured earlier this month by first lady Melania Trump, went into effect on Tuesday and is set to last through Saturday. Residents were given the choice of…
Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired US schoolteacher in Russian custody since 2022, was freed from prison today and taken to St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport, President of Russia Vladimir Putin said.
· Zelenskyy blindsided after Trump announces ‘energy ceasefire’ in Ukraine war from the morgue, 12 Oct 2026
· White House says Melania Trump brokered truce for Ukraine city 'on brink of disaster' from the morgue, 24 Oct 2026
· Melania Trump secures "temporary ceasefire" in Ukrainian city from the morgue, 24 Oct 2026
· Melania Trump brokers localized Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, White House says from the morgue, 23 Oct 2026
· Melania Trump says she’s secured ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in Oleshky from the morgue, 23 Oct 2026
· Melania Trump valiantly secures cease-fire in Ukrainian city on brink of humanitarian catastrophe from the morgue, 23 Oct 2026
· Trump announces immediate ‘energy ceasefire’ between Russia and Ukraine from the morgue, 11 Oct 2026
· Russia still hitting Ukrainian energy sites despite Trump claim of ceasefire, Zelensky says from the morgue, 12 Oct 2026
· Trump calls Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries a ‘disgrace’ from the morgue, 16 Oct 2026
· Zelenskyy vows to retaliate if Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid continue from the morgue, 12 Oct 2026
· Trump’s diesel deal derailed Ukraine-Russia peace progress, says Czech president from the morgue, 22 Oct 2026
· Russia bombards Kyiv with missiles – hours after agreeing to resume talks with Ukraine from the morgue, 22 Oct 2026
· Zelensky unleashes on Trump as Russia diesel deal rallies Ukraine’s supporters from the morgue, 12 Oct 2026
· Zelensky unleashes on Trump over Russia diesel deal from the morgue, 13 Oct 2026
· Zelensky shrugs off Trump’s call for him to be replaced from the morgue, 11 Oct 2026
· US gave us no warning of Russian strikes on Kyiv power plants, Zelenskyy says from the morgue, 19 Oct 2026
· Putin orders release of jailed American as he meets Trump envoy for Ukraine talks from the morgue, 22 Oct 2026
· Former U.S. ambassador says Putin is a war criminal, calls Witkoff's comment "fatuous" from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Russia frees US citizen Stephen Hubbard, state media reports from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· The Guardian view on Trump and Putin: Ukraine’s future is not theirs to bargain away from the morgue, 19 Oct 2026
· Putin proposing summit with Trump, Xi in push to end Ukraine war: WSJ from the morgue, 19 Oct 2026
· Witkoff says he hopes Ukraine included in U.S., Russia talks from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Zelensky says he'd be open to freezing front lines to end Russia war from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Democrats call for investigation into Musk over reported Starlink slowdown order from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Peter Zalmayev: 'Ukraine was showing all sorts of cards that Trump took away and gave to Putin' from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Ukraine's Zelenskyy open to freezing front lines in ceasefire with Russia from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Putin agrees to trilateral talks with Ukraine, US to end war from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Ukraine’s Zelensky says he’d accept peace deal with Russia that ‘freezes’ front lines: ‘Real way to end war’ from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· 'We're done': Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian oil refineries as 'only leverage' for peace talks from the morgue, 15 Oct 2026
· Trump says Ukraine and Russia have agreed to energy target ceasefire from the morgue, 14 Sep 2026
· Rep. Turner calls for congressional probe into Starlink slowdown that disrupted Ukraine drones from the morgue, 18 Oct 2026
· Throttling of Ukraine's Starlink Access Heightens Concerns Over Government Reliance on Elon Musk from the morgue, 14 Oct 2026
· Russia Releases American Stephen Hubbard From Prison, State Media Reports from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Witkoff blasted for calling Putin a "humanitarian" from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Witkoff lauds 'humanitarian' Putin as Russia releases detained American from the morgue, 22 Oct 2026
· Witkoff calling Putin a humanitarian is "cringeworthy," former U.S. ambassador says from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Witkoff faces backlash after calling Putin a 'humanitarian' from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Trump envoy Steve Witkoff praises Putin as ‘humanitarian’ as Ukraine peace talks hang in the balance from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Stephen Hubbard released by Russia after years in prison from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Editor Daily Rundown: Russia Releases American Prisoner Without A Swap from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Who Is Stephen James Hubbard, the American Released From Russian Jail? from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Live updates: Trump lauds Russia's release of American; Vance to campaign with Ramaswamy in Ohio from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· American Stephen Hubbard released by Russia, Trump confirms from the morgue, 22 Oct 2026
· Trump: Implementing Russia sanctions would have halted Stephen Hubbard release talks from the morgue, 21 Oct 2026
· Pence calls on Trump to restore sanctions, scrap Russia diesel deal from the morgue, 18 Oct 2026
· Sen. Graham on Trump waiving Russia sanctions: ‘I look forward to talking to him’ from the morgue, 18 Oct 2026
· Trump and Putin held call over Witkoff-Kushner meeting and state of Ukraine war, Russia says from the morgue, 8 Sep 2026
· Trump Offers Putin Economic Relief in Hopes That Russia Will Return the Favor from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· Graham Breaks With Trump Over Russia Sanctions Law Her Brother Championed from the morgue, 18 Oct 2026
· Easing sanctions on Russia only helps fund Putin’s killing machine from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· Massie offers rare praise for Trump on waiving Lindsey Graham’s Russia sanctions from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· U.S. Floats Lifeline to Russia: Allowing More Gas Sales to Europe from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· Schumer: 'Trump just gave Putin the best birthday gift he’ll get this year' from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· Trump signs Russia sanctions bill named after Lindsey Graham from the morgue, 19 Sep 2026
· Tillis says Trump's Russia deal 'is tarnishing Lindsey Graham's efforts' at sanctions from the morgue, 11 Oct 2026
· Zelensky says US-Russia diesel deal is a 'birthday gift' to Putin to 'kill us, kill our children' from the morgue, 11 Oct 2026
· Zelensky on Trump waiving Russia sanctions: 'This Act could have helped enormously' from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· Zelensky blasts ‘unfortunate’ decision to pause Russia sanctions as Moscow hits power plants from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· GOP lawmakers bash Trump's decision to waive Russia sanctions: 'Beyond irresponsible' from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· Trump waives several Russia sanctions as row with Zelensky intensifies from the morgue, 18 Oct 2026
· Trump signs executive order waiving new Russia sanctions from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· War in Ukraine: Europe stands united behind Kyiv but must revisit how to finance its support from the morgue, 16 Oct 2026
· Lawmakers in bipartisan statement push back on Trump over Russian oil from the morgue, 11 Oct 2026
· Zelensky bashes Trump over diesel deal with Russia from the morgue, 10 Oct 2026
· Trump rips Zelensky amid Russia diesel deal feud: 'I suggest they get a new leader' from the morgue, 10 Oct 2026
· Europe blasts Russian finance minister's attendance at Asheville G20 from the morgue, 1 Sep 2026
· Trump Signs Order Exempting Russia From Sanctions Legislation from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· Trump waives tariffs on largest buyers of Russian oil from the morgue, 18 Oct 2026
· Trump waives Russia sanctions ordered by law named for Lindsey Graham from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· Trump puts new Russia sanctions passed by Congress on hold amid deepening row with Ukraine from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· Trump doubles down after waiving new Russia sanctions, calling it a ‘very good decision’ from the morgue, 17 Oct 2026
· Trump says Russia will export diesel, lifts sanctions from the morgue, 9 Oct 2026
· Trump rips into Volodymyr Zelensky — insisting it’s time for Ukraine to ‘get a new president’ from the morgue, 10 Oct 2026
· Ukraine hit by deadly Russian strikes as ‘thanks’ for Trump diesel deal, Zelenskyy says from the morgue, 10 Oct 2026
· Trump calls for Ukraine to replace Zelenskyy after clash over Russia diesel deal: 'Get a new president' from the morgue, 10 Oct 2026
· Rebuking Ukraine Over Oil Strikes, Trump Says It Should ‘Get a New President’ from the morgue, 10 Oct 2026
· 'Time for Ukraine to get new president,' says Trump after Zelensky condemns diesel deal from the morgue, 11 Oct 2026
· Trump says Ukraine needs new president, blames Zelenskyy for diesel prices from the morgue, 11 Oct 2026
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front. The byline is a pen name for a column drafted by a machine and checked by the editor: how this is made.