Zelensky awards Melania Trump Ukraine's top honour for women after she brokered a ceasefire to evacuate nearly 800 from Oleshky

Donald Trump and Melania Trump, whose office described her as "exclusive intermediary" between Moscow and Kyiv, with Melania set to host Russian and Ukrainian representatives at the White House on Thursday.

Zelensky awarded Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga, 1st Class, for her "significant personal contribution to humanitarian support for Ukraine" — the country's highest honour for women — in a presidential decree dated November 2. The six-day ceasefire she brokered in Oleshky marked the longest local pause in fighting since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, with nearly 800 civilians, mostly elderly, evacuated from the frontline city.

Russian and Ukrainian delegations are due to meet at the White House on Thursday at Melania Trump's own invitation — the first such talks since February.

Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and his Russian counterpart Yana Lantratova, who travelled together into Oleshky last week, will both attend Thursday's White House meeting.

US envoy Steve Witkoff has announced a further round of US-mediated Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, focused on post-war security arrangements.

BBC NewsZelensky awards Melania Trump Ukraine's highest award after Oleshky ceasefire Financial TimesUS to hold first talks with Russia and Ukraine since February Yahoo News UKUkraine's Zelenskiy awards Melania Trump state honour Fox NewsUS will mediate upcoming Ukraine-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi, Witkoff says The IndependentZelensky has awarded Melania Trump one of Ukraine's highest honours. Here's why Daily Mail NewsMelania Trump is awarded state honour by President Zelensky in recognition of her work organising Ukraine front line evacuation

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