U.S.-brokered truce appears to hold in Ukrainian town close to starvation

What happened: A local ceasefire brokered by U.S. first lady Melania Trump, with the involvement of Pope Leo, appeared to be holding around the Ukrainian town of Oleshky after more than four years of Russian occupation. Key numbers: The truce took effect at 3 a.m. Ukrainian time (0100 GMT) and is due to last until Sunday. Why it matters: The truce is intended to allow aid into Oleshky and let those who want to leave do so. Russia and Ukraine both said they were abiding by it, as part of stuttering U.S. efforts to end the war.

A local ceasefire brokered by U.S. first lady Melania Trump, with the involvement of Pope Leo, appeared to be holding around the Ukrainian town of Oleshky after more than four years of Russian occupation.

The truce is intended to allow aid into Oleshky and let those who want to leave do so. Russia and Ukraine both said they were abiding by it, as part of stuttering U.S. efforts to end the war.