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Ukraine's Zelenskiy awards Melania Trump state honour

Reuters
Ukraine's Zelenskiy awards Melania Trump state honour

Nov 4 (Reuters) - Ukrainian ‌President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has awarded US first lady Melania ​Trump a ‌state honour for her role ‌in helping to organise a humanitarian evacuation from a frontline town ‌last week, according to a decree published on Wednesday.

The presidential decree, dated November 2, cited her "significant personal contribution" ⁠to humanitarian support for Ukraine and ‌her work to ⁠help Ukrainian children, including those deported ​or forcibly moved from Russian-occupied territory.

The award - the Order of Princess ​Olga, 1st class - honours women ​who ‌have made exceptional contributions in spheres ​including science, education, culture and ⁠charitable work.

Ukrainian officials have ‌said Melania ​Trump played a ​pivotal role in organising the six-day ceasefire to evacuate civilians from the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of ‌Oleshky, which concluded on Sunday.

It was the longest local pause in fighting ‌since ​Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Nearly 800 people were evacuated, Melania Trump said.

(Reporting by Lina Golovnya; Editing by ‌Daniel Flynn and Barbara Lewis)