Zelensky awards Melania Trump highest award for women after Oleshky ceasefire
The Order of Princess Olga was given to the US First Lady for her humanitarian contributions and role in brokering a truce.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded the Order of Princess Olga, 1st Class, to US First Lady Melania Trump. According to a presidential decree reported by BBC News, the award recognises her significant personal contribution to humanitarian support for Ukraine and her work concerning Ukrainian children affected by the war.
The award follows a ceasefire in the southern Kherson region, which enabled the evacuation of several hundred people from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky. The White House stated that Melania Trump independently initiated engagement between the two nations and successfully secured the ceasefire.
Evacuations in Oleshky began on Friday, 30 October, according to WION. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova said 25 buses were arranged to carry at least 750 people, supported by nine ambulances and over 50 medical personnel. The voluntary evacuation allows residents to choose between travelling to Russia or Ukrainian-controlled territory.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations are scheduled to meet at the White House on Thursday at the invitation of Melania Trump. The delegations will include Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian MP Davyd Arakhamia, Lantratova, and Russian senior official Kirill Dmitriev.
Melania Trump is also expected to deliver remarks on the Oleshky ceasefire at 11:00 on Thursday. Additionally, representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the US are set to meet in Abu Dhabi next week to discuss postwar security agreements and de-escalation, according to US envoy Steve Witkoff.
