Melania Trump to host Russia and Ukraine representatives at the White House in a rare meeting

First lady Melania Trump will host representatives from Russia and Ukraine at the White House on Thursday, her latest diplomatic initiative after an unprecedented humanitarian ceasefire she helped broker between the warring sides.

The meeting comes as the Trump administration pushes for progress in broader peace negotiations, with the United States set to lead renewed trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, next week. The losses suffered by Republicans in the midterm elections dealt a setback to President Donald Trump and his foreign policy, injecting yet more uncertainty into the American approach to the conflict.

“This event represents an extraordinary moment in American history,” the White House said in a statement announcing Thursday’s meeting.

It appears that this will be the first time both sides will meet face-to-face at the White House. It is unclear what exactly the gathering was designed to achieve and whether the president or any of his envoys would attend.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev and human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova, who coordinated the humanitarian ceasefire on the Russian side, were expected to represent Russia at the gathering, according to the…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world