As the war in Ukraine continues with
Russia announcing an all-out attack on its neighbour, US House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi made a surprise visit to Kyiv where she was conferred with the ‘Order of
Princess Olga’ award by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for her
“significant personal contribution” to bolstering American-Ukrainian
relation and “supporting sovereign, independent and democratic
Ukraine”.  Pelosi is the most senior US official to visit Ukraine since February when the war began. Her visit
came as a big positive for Zelensky’s country as Ukraine looks for
international support to fight out Russia.

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The honour recalled Olga, the first woman to rule Kyiv, the first East Slavic state, a confederation that developed between the 9th and 13th centuries, which present-day Ukraine considers its origin. Women who achieve great successes in politics, education, science, education, culture and charity, considered the personification of the strength of Ukraine, are awarded the ‘Order of Princess Olga’ award. Both Ukrainians and foreigners are eligible for this award.

The president also handed Pelosi a Ukrainian flag signed by him and by the deputies the speaker met recently in the US Congress, according to what the spokesman for the American Democrat Drew Hammill said, quoted by CNN.

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The trip to Kyiv by Pelosi, who is
second in line to succeed the president, signalled a significant measure of
commitment to supporting Ukraine from the most senior level of US leadership.

On Friday, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
expressed his gratitude to his US counterpart Joe Biden for the renewed
assistance to fight Russian aggression. This came after Biden stated that he
signed a request to Congress for critical security, economic, and humanitarian
assistance to help Ukraine continue to counter Russian President Vladimir
Putin’s aggression. “We need this bill to support Ukraine in its fight for
freedom,” Biden added. He further remarked that this assistance would
provide even more artillery, armoured vehicles, anti-armour, and anti-air
capabilities.

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Pelosi was accompanied by several other
senior members of Congress, including Gregory Meeks of New York, the chairman
of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Adam Schiff of California, the chairman
of the Intelligence Committee.

The congressional delegation spent just
over three hours on the ground in Kyiv, Pelosi’s spokesman, Drew Hammill, said.
Zelensky gave her a Ukrainian flag that he and female members of parliament,
including those she met with at the US Capitol recently, had signed.

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The visit came at a time when a
desperate Putin keeps destroying Ukrainian infrastructure but failing to
dethrone Zelensky from the power. After two months of the war, Putin warned the
West against supporting Ukraine. But the US did not pay heed to his warning, it
instead sent the House speaker to give Russia a signal of its commitment to
safeguarding Ukraine.