Donald Trump and Volodimir Zelenski met again this Monday at the White House in a much more cordial atmosphere than that experienced in February, when the Republican criticized the Ukrainian president for arriving in military attire at the Oval Office.
On this occasion, the focus was not on the tone of the conversations but on the suit chosen by Zelenski, which became the subject of jokes and praise.
Upon stepping out of the official vehicle, Trump did not hide his surprise. “I can’t believe it. I love it!” he exclaimed upon seeing his counterpart in a black suit. Zelenski, visibly relaxed, responded with a humorous tone, “It’s the best one I had.”
The outfit of the Ukrainian leader was not entirely unprecedented. He had worn it previously in April during the funeral of Pope Francis. According to La Sexta, the suit was designed by Ukrainian tailor Viktor Anisimov. The ensemble blends civilian and military elements, featuring a black shirt, jacket, and pants, maintaining the sober image that has characterized the leader's public persona since the onset of the war.
The attire also sparked comments among the press. Brian Glenn, a journalist who months ago criticized Zelenski for wearing military clothing to an official meeting, took the opportunity to joke with him. "I see you haven't changed your suit today, but I have," Zelenski remarked with irony amidst the laughter of those present, making it clear that the topic had helped lighten the occasion.
The choice of clothing for the Ukrainian president is no minor matter. Since 2022, following the Russian invasion, Zelensky promised his army that he would not wear a civilian suit until the war was over.
Although he has avoided wearing official military uniforms, not being part of the armed forces, he has adopted military-inspired clothing in dark green and other dark tones as a gesture of solidarity with his soldiers.
With the outfit chosen for this meeting in Washington, Zelensky managed to balance personal promise with the diplomatic formality required at a summit in the White House. And, in passing, he managed to elicit an unexpected compliment from Trump, who this time set aside criticism to acknowledge, jokingly, that his guest's attire pleasantly surprised him.
A key journey following the summit in Alaska
Zelenski's visit to Washington comes just two days after the meeting between Trump and Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, which concluded without any progress on the conflict in Eastern Europe.
The Republican insisted that the only way to end the war is through a comprehensive peace agreement, while Putin advocated addressing what he considers the "root causes" of the conflict.
Zelensky supported his host's initiative and indicated that at the White House he would seek to discuss concrete solutions to "end the deaths and the war." European allies, in constant contact following the Alaska summit, warned that any negotiation should respect Ukrainian sovereignty and raised concerns that Moscow continues to delay dialogue to gain time on the military front.
This is Zelenski's first visit to the United States since the tense meeting in February, when Trump accused him of being "disrespectful" during a meeting in the Oval Office.
Filed under:
