Zelensky Grants Melania Trump Ukraine's Highest Civilian Honor
The award recognizes the First Lady's role in securing a ceasefire in Kherson, a move that has set the stage for upcoming multilateral talks in Washington and Abu Dhabi.
By Hassan Ellis ·
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has officially bestowed the Order of Princess Olga, 1st Class, upon US First Lady Melania Trump. The presidential decree, released on Wednesday, cites her personal contribution to humanitarian support for Ukraine. This is the nation's highest distinction specifically designated for women.
The award follows the recent conclusion of a ceasefire in the southern Kherson region. This truce allowed for the evacuation of several hundred residents from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky. Ukrainian and Russian delegations are scheduled to convene at the White House on Thursday at Trump's invitation.
The White House stated that the First Lady independently initiated engagement between the warring nations and successfully secured the ceasefire. Both Moscow and Kyiv have expressed gratitude for her brokering of the truce, though neither capital has provided specific details regarding the extent of her diplomatic role. The White House described the effort as a diplomatic initiative led by an American First Lady.
Thursday's meetings will feature high-level representatives from both sides. Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, and his Russian counterpart, Yana Lantratova, will attend after traveling together to Oleshky last week. They will join Ukrainian MP Davyd Arakhamia and Russian businessman Kirill Dmitriev. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Lantratova and Dmitriev would form the Russian delegation.
Ukrainian media reported that Arakhamia managed informal contacts between the White House and Moscow during the ceasefire period. He has confirmed his participation in the upcoming talks. While both Arakhamia and Dmitriev are experienced negotiators, the involvement of a US First Lady in organizing such a senior meeting is rare in diplomatic history.
Zelensky's decree also referenced Trump's earlier efforts regarding Ukrainian children affected by the war. In 2025, she stated that an open channel of communication had been established with Russian President Vladimir Putin to facilitate the reunification of displaced children with their families. The United Nations previously declared that the deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia constitutes a crime against humanity and a war crime. Ukraine estimates that nearly 20,000 children have been sent to Russia and Belarus since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Separate from the White House event, Russian, Ukrainian, and American representatives are due to meet in Abu Dhabi next week. This will be their first trilateral session since February. US envoy Steve Witkoff said on Monday that the discussions will focus on postwar security agreements and de-escalation measures.
