Amid an unparalleled brokered ceasefire on Friday between Ukraine and Russia to allow for the evacuation of civilians in the occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, new prospects for a broader ceasefire between the two countries appeared on the horizon as reports of renewed talks occurring in November have surfaced. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that his country continues to support an unconditional ceasefire to end the war.

According to reports, the localized ceasefire was “brokered by [F]irst [L]ady Melania Trump and with the involvement of Pope Leo XIV,” with Ukrainian officials saying the pause in fighting was one of the most significant since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022, when Russia invaded its smaller neighbor without provocation. Humanitarian teams from both sides were reportedly on the ground to deliver aid and assist any civilians of the city who wished to evacuate through Russian-controlled territory across the Dnieper River into Ukrainian-held Kherson.

According to NBC News, “Oleshky’s pre-invasion population of more than 20,000 has dwindled to an estimated 2,000, with those left behind surviving on tiny amounts of grain and edible weeds.” After Melania Trump learned of the situation during a United Nations gathering last month and used her contact to assist in brokering a truce, Pope Leo called Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 16 to express his “deep concern” over the situation. The ceasefire took effect on Tuesday and is scheduled to expire on Sunday.

However, immediate hopes for a broader ceasefire appeared dim as a Russian drone struck civilian targets in the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine on Wednesday, wounding five people, including a 4-year-old. Russia also reportedly repelled hundreds of Ukrainian drones from late Tuesday to early Wednesday.

Still, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to express hope that a ceasefire can be negotiated in the near future. On Friday, he joined Family Research Council President Tony Perkins on “This Week on Capitol Hill” to discuss the prospects of a ceasefire and the plight of Christians in his country.

“We always supported the idea and proposition [from] President Trump [of an] unconditional ceasefire,” he explained. “It was [supported] at the very beginning of 2025 and … several [other] times supported by Ukraine. But Russia never accepted any kind of ceasefires. … [T]his is the first time … [that there has been] a ceasefire from both sides on temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. … [We] hope it can continue. Of course, … if such signals will come from [the] Americans again, it will be absolutely great, and we will support [it].”

Zelensky went on to note that a meeting involving the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia could be on the horizon in November. “[W]e are thankful to the American side for mediation during our meeting in Oslo — that was the proposition from America to have [a] meeting in November from the 6th to the 10th … in Abu Dhabi. But there are a lot of different sensitive moments and a lot of challenges in the Middle East. … We always support the idea to come to Emirates. We supported the proposition from [the] American side to have a trilateral meeting on a technical level.”

Zelensky further underscored Russia’s targeting of pastors and churches in its drone and missile campaign against non-military targets. “[A]round 120 representatives of different religious institutions have been killed by Russia. It was not an accident. It was [an] attack on these people, on the churches and other institutions.”

As for allegations by media figures such as Tucker Carlson, who have accused the Ukrainian government of persecuting Christians, Zelensky detailed how religious freedom is central to his administration.

“[Carlson has] never been in Ukraine,” he emphasized. “… [W]e are very free. We have the biggest council in Europe of religious institutions. We all work together. We have each month meetings in the presidential office, or I can come to different churches or institutions. We always together discuss all the questions, all the problems, how to help [with] humanitarian aid. Also, if something has been destroyed or if [a] religious representative [or] leaders of churches have been tortured by Russians or are in prison, … I come to them and we … manage all the problems. … Christians, Jewish people, Catholic churches, and also Muslims, … we sit together in one room and manage all these problems and discuss.”

“It’s thousands of people,” Zelensky added. “It’s not just five, 10 people who manage all the problems and decide. No, it’s [the] will of [the] people. … We stay together, and we really respect each other.”