The temporary ceasefire began yesterday, with the involved area expanded to include regions surrounding Oleshky, Ukraine. Under the terms of the agreement, aid will now be allowed to reach the remaining citizens — estimated at between 1,700 and 2,000, mostly elderly and infirm individuals who have been unable or unwilling to leave, plus an estimated 50 children — and to evacuate as many as possible.
This is two days ahead of the original schedule. According to Melania Trump, who is being credited with having brokered the ceasefire, the early start was arranged in order “to protect the safety of civilians and to facilitate the delivery of critical humanitarian aid. The ceasefire’s geographic area has expanded beyond Oleshky, within the Kherson region, to provide safe passage for the humanitarian convoys.” [RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, October 27, 2026.]
However, due to the necessity of clearing the area of Russian mines before safe passage can be guaranteed, the first humanitarian aid deliveries and population evacuations are not expected to begin until Friday.
Here’s hoping it all goes well.
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But even in the midst of this welcome development, Russia continues to bombard other regions of Ukraine. On Monday night, some 16 ballistic missiles and 280 drones were launched, including strikes in Kyiv on a university dormitory and other civilian sites, killing at least one person.
And following a 90-minute phone conversation with the leaders of Finland and Norway on Tuesday in which they attempted to support the proposed trilateral negotiations being scheduled in November among Ukraine, Russia and the United States, the Kremlin issued a statement summing up its take on the discussion:
“It was emphasized that achieving a just and long-term peace is possible only if the legitimate interests of the Russian Federation are fully and unconditionally taken into account. At the same time, attention was drawn to the confrontational policies of EU and NATO countries, which are contributing to the prolongation of the hostilities.” [Essi Lehto, Reuters, October 27, 2026.]
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It remains clear that Vladimir Putin still has no desire to seek peace except on his terms — terms that would reward him for the war he started and the thousands of deaths he has caused. All of the meetings, the so-called negotiations, and the short-term ceasefires are nothing but “red herrings” . . . delaying tactics that have given him the time he needed to steer Donald Trump over to his side while simultaneously waging a shadow war against Europe.
The nations of Europe have been forced to band together in their own defense in ways unknown since World War II, due to Putin’s undisguised aggression and Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine, its European allies, and everything the United States has always stood for. But will it be enough?
This is one of those defining moments that students of history will be discussing and debating for decades — or perhaps centuries — to come. And I’m not sure I want to be around to see how it all turns out.
Of course, I said that about the Cuban Missile Crisis, too . . . and we’re all still here. So there is always hope.
Just sayin’ . . .
Brendochka
10/28/26
