It was billed as a reset, and for once, the optics matched the script.
US President Donald Trump welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky back to the White House on Monday, joined by European leaders determined to show unity in the face of Russia's war. What followed was a carefully choreographed performance that marked a stark contrast to the bitter Oval Office clash in February.
But it was not Trump's call to Vladimir Putin or the $90 billion (£71 billion) arms package that grabbed attention. It was Zelensky's words. In less than five minutes, the Ukrainian president thanked Trump 11 times. Analysts asked: was it courtesy, or a deliberate power move?
From February Clash to August Charm Offensive
Earlier this year, Trump accused Kyiv of being 'ungrateful', while Zelensky pushed back over NATO delays. The February meeting ended in open tension.
This time, the atmosphere was transformed. Trump hailed the talks as a 'significant step', while Zelensky called it his 'best' visit yet. Even his outfit, a tailored black field jacket instead of army fatigues, signalled a shift from battlefield commander to statesman.
'You are in the same suit. I changed, you did not,' Zelensky joked to a right-wing reporter who once mocked his clothes, drawing laughter from Trump.
The Price of Security
At the centre of the talks was Trump's offer of 'very good' security guarantees. The framework involved up to $90 billion (£71 billion) in US weapons, largely funded by Europe, and included deals for Ukraine to export drones.
'We have agreements with the US president that when our export opens, they will buy Ukrainian drones,' Zelensky said.
European leaders, however, insisted a ceasefire must come first. Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer warned that guarantees without silence on the battlefield would be meaningless. Critics also called it naive to frame US security commitments as something requiring Russian approval.
Symbolic Gestures and Carefully Managed Optics
Symbolism dominated the day. Trump presented Zelensky with a map marking Russian-occupied areas, to which the Ukrainian president vowed he would reclaim lost land.
In another moment, Trump handed over a letter from Olena Zelenska to Melania Trump, highlighting the plight of abducted children.
'I want to thank FLOTUS Melania Trump for her attention to one of the most painful and difficult issues of this war - the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia,' Zelensky wrote on X. 'At least 20,000 children were taken. I asked President Trump to pass along a letter of gratitude from Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, to Melania. Her voice matters, and her care gives strength to this cause.'
I want to thank @FLOTUS Melania Trump for her attention to one of the most painful and difficult issues of this war – the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia. We deeply appreciate her compassion and her letter to Putin.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2025
This issue lies at the heart of the war's... https://t.co/DHiGcUGydO
The golf club Zelensky gifted Trump from a wounded soldier and a model of Air Force One at their photo-op reinforced the stagecraft. Yet the most telling detail remained Zelensky's 11 thank-yous, underlining Ukraine's dependence on US support.
Kyiv Watches With Distrust
While leaders smiled in Washington, Russia launched its heaviest aerial assault in weeks, killing at least eight people.
In Kyiv, residents said no 'bad decisions' emerged from the summit but balked at the idea of talks with Putin. 'It is impossible to sit down at the negotiating table with an international criminal,' said Ihor Kharchenko.
Doctor Larysa Kvitko was blunt: 'You cannot shake hands with a murderer.' Others warned that giving up territory would be 'a crime against future generations'.
For Ukrainians, peace cannot mean surrender.
A Summit With Putin?
Trump boasted he had already called Putin to explore a trilateral meeting. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz even suggested a Zelensky-Putin summit could happen within weeks.
But the Kremlin quickly poured cold water on the idea, saying only that talks might be 'raised to a higher level of representation'. Analysts noted Putin already achieved what he wanted: recognition as Trump's equal. Meeting Zelensky would contradict his narrative of Ukraine as a puppet regime.
Flattery or Strategy?
So why the 11 thank-yous? Analysts say it was no accident. By flattering Trump, Zelensky ensured Washington's backing for security guarantees and reinforced Ukraine's image as a loyal partner.
Whether Trump saw it as charm or confirmation of his leverage matters little. For Zelensky, survival depends on keeping America firmly in his corner. And if that means 11 thank-yous in five minutes, it may have been the smartest play of his presidency.
The question now is whether that gratitude will be matched with action, or remembered only as another carefully staged moment in a war that grinds on.
