Zelensky awards Melania Trump Ukraine's top honor for women after Olesjky ceasefire

Ukrainian President Zelensky has awarded US First Lady Melania Trump the country's highest honor for women, citing her role in brokering a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Olesjky. The decoration comes as the war continues unabated. The presidential decree references Trump's "significant personal contribution" to humanitarian support for Ukraine and her efforts on behalf of Ukrainian children, including those deported or forcibly displaced from Russian-occupied territories. She receives the highest grade of the Order of Princess Olha, previously awarded to Nancy Pelosi and Kaja Kallas. During the six-day pause, food and medicine reached the city, and nearly 800 people were evacuated. The ceasefire was the longest local break in fighting since Russia's 2022 invasion. Trump reportedly sent a personal letter to Russian President Putin in August 2025 urging peace. Both Russian and Ukrainian authorities thanked her, with the White House describing her as "exclusive mediator." The honor coincides with Russian attacks causing power outages in Kyiv and a deadly strike in Zaporizja that killed 40 people.