I doubt that anyone said it out loud, but I have to imagine that’s what at least one person from Moscow or Kyiv was thinking yesterday as they sat in the White House — with devastating attacks still being exchanged between their two countries — listening to Melania Trump express hope for a “more enduring” peace in the wake of the temporary ceasefire that allowed aid to reach the occupied and blockaded city of Oleshky, Ukraine, and the successful evacuation of those of its citizens who wished to leave.
The First Lady began by praising the “highly cooperative” Russian and Ukrainian leaders, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, for helping to bring about the six-day ceasefire, and told the gathering:
“We have chosen humanity over war. Undeniably, the lives of innocent people must transcend the divisions of war. I hope Oleshky inspires greater peace.”
(I wonder if she remembered that little matter of her husband’s war in Iran . . . but I digress.)
She then introduced Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, who said:
“This humanitarian mission shows what can be achieved when compassion, determination and cooperation come together.” [NBC News, November 5, 2026.]
I can’t argue with that. Unfortunately, however, Putin has neither compassion nor a spirit of cooperation; and his determination is directed solely at achieving his goal of regaining control of Ukraine . . . and beyond.
But the charade continued, with Ukraine’s David Arakhamia saying that he hoped the recent achievement would create a momentum “to actually keep the peace when the peace comes” [id.] — which sounds like a tactful way of indicating that he has his doubts as to Putin’s true intentions.
Yet Ukraine continues to hope for the best while preparing for the worst; and those hopes include the continuation of support from the United States. In that spirit, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s parliamentary commissioner for human rights, presented Melania Trump with his country’s highest state honor: the Order of Princess Olga, 1st Class.
And this is where, had I been present in that room, I would have had to excuse myself. You see, the Order of Princess Olga — named after the 10th-century Olga of Kyiv, regent of Kyivan Rus’ — is awarded to Ukrainian and foreign women for “personal merits in state service, science, education, culture, charity, and social activities, as well as for raising children in families.”
I’m just having a hard time understanding where Melania Trump fits into that description. Maybe “social activities”?
Finally, Melania gave Dmitriev and Arakhamia personal letters to deliver to their respective presidents. It is unknown what the letters contained — or who actually wrote them — and she did not respond to questions from NBC News . . . which was hardly surprising, since it would have required her to go off-script.
So that’s it, at least for the time being. While I have no patience for this sort of “hail-fellow-well-met” hypocrisy, I suppose it does serve some purpose in the world of international diplomacy. But I’m damned if I know what it is — and I’m really glad I don’t have to be part of it.
Just sayin’ . . .
Brendochka
11/6/26
