What Is the Order of Princess Olga? Melania Trump Honored by Ukraine - Newsweek

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded First Lady Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga for her "humanitarian support" for the country.

In a decree issued on Monday, Melania Trump was honored for her "significant personal contribution to humanitarian support for Ukraine, active human rights and charitable activities aimed at saving Ukrainian children, citizens affected by Russian aggression, illegally deported and forcibly displaced from the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation."

She was given the award in the 1st degree, the highest decree out of the three possible—the award was established in 1997 to honor women’s contributions to Ukraine.

It comes as the White House revealed that the first lady would host Russian and Ukrainian representatives this week, in what will be the first time officials from the two warring nations will have met since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Ukrainian officials said Melania Trump played a significant role in establishing the ​six-day ⁠ceasefire to evacuate civilians from the Russian-occupied ​town of Oleshky which finished on the weekend.

Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma established the award almost three decades ago in an effort to give more recognition to women in the country.

It was named after Princess Olga, also known as Olha, who became the 10th-century ruler of Kyiv—as regent under her young son Sviatoslav—after her husband Prince Ihor’s death.

She strengthened Kyiv’s control over the territories it ruled, crushing a rebellion by the Drevlians who had killed Prince Ihor.

Olga converted to Christianity and was later canonized and honored with the title Isapostolos, or Equal to the Apostles. She enacted financial reforms, including clear rules on how taxes should be paid and collected.

Previous recipients of the Order of Princess Olga include EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir, both awarded the title earlier this year. In 2022, former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was given the honor for her role in "strengthening Ukrainian-American interstate cooperation and supporting sovereign, independent and democratic Ukraine."

Recipients of the award are presented with a badge, meant to be worn on the left side of the chest. A 1st degree award, which the First Lady will get, is oval-shaped, made of silver, and displays an image of Princess Olga.

The first lady has been praised for helping to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine’s war-torn Oleshky region, with the White House saying in a statement on Tuesday: “Mrs. Trump independently initiated engagement between the two warring nations and successfully.”

“This achievement marks an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by an American First Lady,” it said.

The six-day pause in fighting—from October 27 through November 1—was the longest pause in hostilities since the invasion. It was engineered to help residents to evacuate and to allow aid to enter Oleshky.

Melania Trump played a key role in mediating between Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and his Russian counterpart, human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova, the White House said.

After last weekend’s evacuation, Melania Trump said in a post on X: “The mission was a success, delivering critical aid to the region and enabling the evacuation of nearly 800 people.”

“On behalf of America, I commend Russia and Ukraine for their leadership and cooperation surrounding the Oleshky ceasefire,” she said. “I hope Oleshky serves as a foundation for lasting peace between both nations.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would welcome any further ceasefires and was open to working with Melania Trump again to secure them.

"If the first lady can do it, can continue, it's very helpful," Zelensky told Fox News on Monday. “I’m very thankful to her.”