Zelensky awards Melania Trump Ukraine's highest honor for women after brokering Oleshky ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently bestowed upon Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States, the highest Ukrainian state honor for women, the Order of Princess Olha, 1st Class. This prestigious recognition is in honor of her humanitarian efforts, particularly her instrumental role in brokering a ceasefire that facilitated the evacuation of hundreds of civilians during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Order of Princess Olha, 1st Class, was awarded to Melania Trump by the Ukrainian President himself on November 2, according to a presidential decree published on the same day. This award acknowledges her profound humanitarian work on behalf of Ukrainian civilians, especially children displaced or forcibly transferred to Russia during the war.

Melania Trump's pivotal role in negotiating a temporary ceasefire in Oleshky is highlighted in this commendation. As a result, humanitarian assistance reached the city and more than 300 residents managed to be evacuated. To date, four planes carrying evacuees have landed in Belarus, as reported by Belarusian state news agency Belta and a Ukrainian official.

The Oleshky city is a strategic battlefield in the Russia-Ukraine war, home to a mere 1,700 to 2,000 residents out of its original 24,000 prewar population. Around 90% of the city was inundated after the Kakhovka Dam was destroyed, compelling the majority of its inhabitants to evacuate.

In addition to her humanitarian work, Melania Trump has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at securing the return of Ukrainian children who were taken to Russia during the war. Through her contacts with both Moscow and Kyiv, she has played a key role in these efforts.

Furthermore, the White House has disclosed that Trump had independently initiated engagement between the two warring nations, successfully securing a ceasefire, which is deemed as an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by an American First Lady. This achievement signifies a significant milestone in diplomatic relations between the two countries.

As part of the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump is set to host Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House on Thursday. The attendees are expected to comprise Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, his Russian counterpart Yana Lantratova, Ukrainian lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia, and senior Russian official Kirill Dmitriev. This meeting is deemed as a notable participation by these officials in a diplomatic meeting organized by a US first lady.