President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu received the Order of Princess Olga, 1st Class, in Kyiv on Monday, one of Ukraine’s highest state distinctions. The award was presented to her by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during events marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s declaration of independence, TRIBUNA reports.

The distinction was awarded for outstanding personal merits in strengthening cooperation between the two states and supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“I accept this distinction on behalf of the people of the Republic of Moldova,” President Maia Sandu said. “In the first days of the war, families across our country opened their doors and hearts to women and children fleeing the bombs. This is their merit.”

The Order of Princess Olga is a state distinction of Ukraine, established in 1997 and awarded to women for outstanding achievements in state and civic activities, science, education, culture, charity, and other areas of public life.

Since the beginning of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova has provided refuge to Ukrainians fleeing the war, facilitated transit corridors for Ukrainian exports, and provided humanitarian and energy assistance. With a 1,222-kilometer shared border, the Republic of Moldova is a trusted security partner for Ukraine and the rest of Europe.

At the same time, this year the Republic of Moldova joined the Coalition of the Willing, a political and diplomatic coordination format led by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, bringing together more than 30 countries, most of them European. The Coalition aims to support Ukraine in its efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace and strong security guarantees to prevent renewed aggression. President Maia Sandu participated on Monday, August 24, in the Coalition leaders’ meeting held in Kyiv.

The Order of Princess Olga is the second distinction conferred on President Maia Sandu by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On August 23, 2021, the head of state was awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st Class.