Zelensky honours Melania Trump for humanitarian work and evacuation support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded US First Lady Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga, first class, for her humanitarian work, including support for Ukrainian children. Ukrainian officials credited her with helping organise a six-day ceasefire that enabled civilians to leave Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in southern Ukraine.

Melania Trump said nearly 800 people were evacuated during the pause, which ended on Sunday and was described as the longest local ceasefire since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine’s General Staff said Russian forces used the truce to strengthen their positions, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called adjusting positions during a ceasefire standard practice. Representatives of Russia and Ukraine were expected at a White House event about the operation on Thursday.