Zelensky Awards Ukraine’s ‘Order of Princess Olga’ Medal to U.S House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a Ukrainian civil honor — the Order of Princess Olga — following their meeting in Kyiv, a decoration given to women who have made outstanding contributions to the Ukrainian state.
Photos supplied by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service and published by Reuters show Zelensky presenting the award to the California Democrat, the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Kyiv since Russia’s invasion.
It is meant to highlight her “significant personal contribution” to strengthening America’s ties with Ukraine and “supporting sovereign, independent and democratic Ukraine,” the Ukrainian government said in a statement.
According to a 1997 presidential decree, both foreigners and citizens of Ukraine can be awarded the medal, which marks the achievements of women in various fields, including public service, science and education.
Pelosi said in a statement Sunday that she and members of the first official congressional delegation since the Ukraine war began met with Zelensky in Kyiv to “send an unmistakable and resounding message to the entire world: America stands firmly with Ukraine.”