A U.S.-mediated ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky held into its second day on Oct. 28, as Britain pledged what it called its biggest ever support package for Ukraine and the Netherlands announced a new military aid package worth 500 million euros ($557 million).
President Vladimir Putin wanted U.S. First Lady Melania Trump to mediate the ceasefire and wrote a formal letter naming her Russia's exclusive intermediary, according to Marc Beckman, her exclusive senior adviser. Beckman told the Kyiv Independent that the Russian military proposed moving the ceasefire forward by two days and extending it beyond Oleshky into other parts of Kherson Oblast to allow humanitarian deliveries and evacuation preparations, and that Ukraine agreed. He called the changes a sign of good faith. “Their actions will speak for themselves ultimately, but what we've seen so far is tremendous cooperation from both sides,” he said.
The ceasefire, announced by the White House on Oct. 23 as mediated by Trump and confirmed by Ukraine and Russia, is expected to run into early November as aid is brought in, key roads are demined and residents are evacuated. Oleshky, which had a pre-war population of around 24,000, sits across the Dnipro River from Kherson and has been blockaded by Russian forces, which have prevented humanitarian aid from reaching residents.
U.K. Finance Minister John Healey announced the British package while presenting the 2027 budget: more than 10 billion pounds ($13.3 billion) in support for Ukraine. “Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine poses a serious threat to U.K. prosperity and security,” the U.K. finance ministry said. “That's why this budget is providing over 10 billion pounds in additional support to Ukraine.” It called the package the biggest financial commitment ever made to Ukraine by the U.K.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, visiting The Hague, thanked Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten for a 500 million euro package being prepared this fall, saying it was “truly significant, especially when it comes to repelling Russian air attacks.” The two discussed the U.S.-mediated peace process ahead of expected trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi by Nov. 10, for which no firm date has been set, as well as energy and defense cooperation and the Bliksem air defense project. Earlier, a Dutch ministerial visit to Kyiv brought a non-military aid pledge of 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) over three years.
On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces reportedly attacked facilities in Russia linked to Moscow's military-industrial complex overnight, according to Russian Telegram channels. Explosions and fires were reported in Lipetsk, with a fire breaking out near the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant after air defenses were engaged, Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova Plus reported. A 2025 investigation by Ukrainska Pravda found the plant supplies Russian defense companies that make air defense systems, drones, missiles and other weapons.
Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) said satellite imagery shows Russia building a new attack drone launch site near Millerovo airfield in Rostov Oblast, about 20 kilometers east of Luhansk Oblast. HUR said the site appears designed for jet-powered Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones and could support up to 100 launches a day once complete. “The construction of the facility in the Rostov Region may be part of Russia's preparations to intensify its attacks on Ukrainian territory, particularly during the winter,” HUR said.
A poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found 80% of Ukrainians want strikes on Russian refineries to continue even if the U.S. restricts intelligence sharing or Starlink operations; 11% said Ukraine should pause the attacks. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Kyiv to stop attacking Russian refineries, a key source of revenue for Moscow's budget. Ukraine has said it faced a temporary pause in U.S. intelligence sharing on incoming Russian ballistic missiles, restrictions on Starlink and delays in Patriot air defense missile shipments. The U.S. administration has denied ordering any restrictions to pressure Kyiv.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Oleshky ceasefire is a test of U.S.-mediated negotiation: the pause is in its second day and is meant to allow aid, demining and evacuations before early November.
- Britain and the Netherlands have committed fresh billions, an indication that European allies are preparing Ukraine to keep fighting through the winter.
- The KIIS poll points to broad Ukrainian support for continuing refinery strikes even if that strains relations with Washington.
Background
Oleshky, a city of around 24,000 before the war, has been under Russian occupation since the early days of the full-scale invasion and has been effectively blockaded, with residents cut off from humanitarian aid. The ceasefire was announced by the White House on Oct. 23 as mediated by Trump and confirmed by both Ukraine and Russia; according to adviser Marc Beckman, Moscow had sought Melania Trump as the exclusive intermediary. Away from the pause, the war continues, with Kyiv reportedly striking industrial targets inside Russia and Moscow building drone infrastructure near the border.
Key Perspectives
Vladimir Putin: according to adviser Marc Beckman, wanted Melania Trump to mediate and wrote a formal letter naming her Russia's exclusive intermediary.
Marc Beckman: called the Russian proposal to speed up and widen the ceasefire a sign of good faith and said cooperation so far was “tremendous.”
Volodymyr Zelensky: thanked the Netherlands for the €500 million package, calling it significant for repelling Russian air attacks.
UK finance ministry: said the budget's more than £10 billion in support was its biggest ever package for Ukraine because Russia's invasion threatens U.K. prosperity and security.
HUR: said the new drone site near Millerovo may be part of Russian preparations to intensify attacks on Ukraine, particularly during winter.
US administration: denied ordering restrictions on intelligence sharing, Starlink or Patriot shipments to pressure Kyiv.
Ukrainian public: 80% of those polled backed continued refinery strikes even if Washington restricts support.
What to Watch
- Whether trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi take place by Nov. 10; Zelensky expects them but no firm date is set.
- Whether the expanded Oleshky ceasefire holds through early November and delivers aid, demining and evacuations.
- Whether U.S. restrictions on intelligence sharing, Starlink or Patriot deliveries emerge; Washington denies imposing them.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Oleshky ceasefire was in its second day on Oct. 28.Kyiv Independent: “The ceasefire — announced by the White House on Oct. 23 as being mediated by Trump and soon confirmed by Ukraine and Russia — is in its second day as of Oct. 28”
- SupportedPutin wanted Melania Trump to mediate the Oleshky ceasefire and wrote a formal letter naming her Russia's exclusive intermediary, according to her adviser Marc Beckman.Kyiv Independent: “President Putin wanted very much for her to participate and also wrote a formal letter explaining that she… would be recognized as the exclusive intermediary from Russia, Beckman said.”
- SupportedUkrainian forces reportedly attacked Russian industrial facilities overnight.Kyiv Independent: “Ukraine's military reportedly launched attacks on several facilities within Russia linked to Moscow's military-industrial complex overnight on Oct. 28, Russian Telegram media channels reported.”
- SupportedThe U.K. is set to provide more than £10 billion in support for Ukraine in 2027.Kyiv Independent: “The U.K. is set to provide over 10 billion pounds ($13.3 billion) in support for Ukraine in 2027, British Finance Minister John Healey announced on Oct. 28.”
- Partly supportedThe U.K. finance ministry called the package its biggest financial commitment ever to Ukraine.Kyiv Independent: ““It was the biggest financial package ever committed to Ukraine by the U.K. and was a symbol of this government’s commitment to ensuring Ukraine had the means to continue its courageous fight against Russia’s illegal invasion,” said U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham.”
- SupportedThe Netherlands announced a military aid package worth €500 million ($557 million).Kyiv Independent: “The Netherlands will provide Ukraine with a new military aid package worth 500 million euros ($557 million), President Zelensky said after visiting The Hague on Oct. 28.”
- SupportedZelensky said the Dutch package was “truly significant, especially when it comes to repelling Russian air attacks.”Kyiv Independent: ““This is truly significant, especially when it comes to repelling Russian air attacks.””
- SupportedZelensky expected trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi by Nov. 10, but no firm date had been set.Kyiv Independent: “President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 28 he expects the planned Abu Dhabi peace talks with Russia and the U.S. to take place in mid-November, adding that Washington is yet to confirm a date. “We need to have this meeting till the end of (next) month, I hope... between Nov. 6 and 10,””
- SupportedA Dutch ministerial visit to Kyiv brought a €1.2 billion non-military aid package to be disbursed over three years.Kyiv Independent: “the country’s trade minister announced a package of non-military aid worth 1.2 billion euros (about $1.3 billion) for Ukraine, to be disbursed over the next three years”
- SupportedA fire broke out near the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant after air defenses were engaged.Kyiv Independent: “A fire broke out in the area of the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant after air defenses were engaged, according to the monitoring channel.”
- SupportedHUR said the new drone site near Millerovo could support up to 100 launches a day once complete.Kyiv Independent: “HUR estimated that once construction is complete, the site could accommodate up to 100 drone launches per day.”
- SupportedA KIIS poll found that 80% of Ukrainians backed continued strikes on Russian refineries even if the U.S. restricted intelligence sharing or Starlink operations.Kyiv Independent: “Some 80% of respondents back the continued strikes, even if Washington restricts intelligence sharing or Starlink operations.”