Zelensky awards Melania Trump honour for Ukraine evacuation role

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 11:37 · Archive

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded US First Lady Melania Trump a state honour for her role organising a humanitarian evacuation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded US First Lady Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga, 1st class, a state honour recognising exceptional contributions in fields including science, education, culture and charitable work. The presidential decree, dated November 2, cited her 'significant personal contribution' to humanitarian support for Ukraine and her work to help Ukrainian children, including those deported or forcibly moved from Russian-occupied territory.

Ukrainian officials said Trump played a pivotal role in organising a six-day ceasefire to evacuate civilians from Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine's Kherson region. The ceasefire concluded on Sunday and was the longest local pause in fighting since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Nearly 800 people were evacuated during the truce.

Zelensky previously said he was grateful to Trump for her role. The White House said she brokered the humanitarian mission. The Independent World reports that Pope Leo XIV also spoke with Zelensky and Vladimir Putin this month, urging them to allow humanitarian aid into Oleshky and safe civilian evacuation. Kyiv's General Staff said Russian forces also used the truce to rotate troops and improve battlefield logistics.

How it is being reported

• Zelensky awards Melania Trump Ukraine's highest award after Oleshky ceasefireRussian and Ukrainian delegations will meet the US first lady at the White House on Thursday.BBC News · 4 Nov, 15:01
• Zelensky awards Melania Trump one of Ukraine's highest honoursThe presidential decree cited her ‘significant personal contribution’ to humanitarian support for UkraineIndependent World · 4 Nov, 11:07
• Melania Trump is awarded state honour by President Zelensky in recognition of her work organising Ukraine front line evacuationZelensky has awarded US First Lady Melania Trump a state honour for her role in helping to organise a humanitarian evacuation from a frontline town last week.Daily Mail · 4 Nov, 10:51

In this story: Melania Trump · Volodymyr Zelensky · Ukraine · Oleshky · Russia · Vladimir Putin

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log