In brief

• Zelensky awarded US First Lady Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga, First Class, on 2 November.
• The decree cites her humanitarian support for Ukraine and work to rescue civilians.
• Trump helped broker a rare temporary local ceasefire in the Russian-occupied town of Olešky, allowing supplies in and civilians out.

Award for humanitarian support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on Monday, 2 November, awarding US First Lady Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga, First Class (Zelenskyj vyznamenal Melaniu Trumpovú Radom kňažnej Oľgy: Ocenil záchranu detí a evakuáciu Olešiek – Aktuality.sk) (Zelenskyj vyznamenal Trumpovou, která zprostředkovala příměří v Oleškách – Seznam Zprávy) (Volodymyr Zelenskyj udelil Melanii Trumpovej ukrajinské štátne vyznamenanie. Ocenil jej humanitárnu pomoc – STVR). According to the decree, the honour recognises her significant personal contribution to humanitarian aid for Ukraine and her active human rights and charity work aimed at rescuing Ukrainian children, citizens and people affected by Russian aggression, including those unlawfully and forcibly displaced from territory under temporary Russian occupation.

Ceasefire in Olešky

The award comes shortly after Trump helped arrange a rare, temporary local truce in Olešky, a town in southern Ukraine held by Russian forces. Residents there had faced shortages of food, medicine and drinking water (Zelenskyj vyznamenal Trumpovou, která zprostředkovala příměří v Oleškách – Novinky.cz). The pause in fighting was the first of its kind since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022, with both sides respecting the halt in hostilities. It allowed supplies to reach the town and enabled the evacuation of civilians. Reports say hundreds of people were brought to safety from the area.

Context

US President Donald Trump, who took office in January 2025, has said he is working to end the Russia-Ukraine war and has repeatedly said he hopes to win the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming to have ended eight wars (Trump sníva o Nobelovej cene, pocty sa dočkala Melania. Postaral sa o to Zelenskyj – Pravda.sk). Ukrainian media reported that the decree was published on the presidential website, and Polish outlets noted that the Order of Princess Olga is awarded only to women, in three classes, for distinguished service in state, public, scientific or philanthropic activity (Melania Trump z ukraińskim odznaczeniem. "Wkład we wsparcie humanitarne" – Polsat News).