Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived for his meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office wearing an all black suit, but no tie – months after he was derided for his lack of formal dress during his previous, and now infamous, visit to the White House.
The Ukrainian president wore a jacket, previously described as “suit-style” but not a full suit, as well as a black shirt during the sit-down Monday. His fashion choice was noted by members of the media who had criticized him in February.
“First of all, president Zelensky, you look fabulous in that suit. You look good,” said MAGA reporter Brian Glenn, who last time had asked the Ukrainian leader “Do you even own a suit?”
“That’s the one that attacked you,” Trump said to Zelensky, to which he replied with a knowing smile: “I remember.” The Ukrainian president then noted to Glenn: “You are in the same suit. I changed, you have not,” drawing laughter from the room, as well as Trump.
Zelensky’s black jacket was the same he wore to a June NATO summit in the Netherlands, which also marked the first time he had donned a business-style jacket since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in Ukraine in 2022 — and the fashion choice reportedly impressed Trump.
White House asked Ukrainian officials if Zelensky would wear a suit ahead of Monday’s meeting in Washington, D.C., with top European leaders and Trump, two sources told Axios.
One Trump advisor jokingly told the outlet that “it would be a good sign for peace” if Zelensky dressed up Monday, but added, “We don’t expect him to do it.” They also did not expect the Ukrainian leader to wear a tie.
The high-stakes meeting comes months after the president welcomed Zelensky into the West Wing in February, and made jabs about his customary military-style attire, jokingly telling the press, “he’s all dressed up today.”
However, it was Vice President JD Vance who more annoyed than Trump by the Ukrainian leader’s understated fashion choices on that occasion, particularly that he was without a tie, according to Axios.
Trump’s irritation during Zelensky’s last visit, which descended into a shouting match, was about more than just his fashion choices, and the president’s advisors say this time should go more smoothly.
"They've traveled very, very far, both of them. Zelensky will not show him pictures of dead children and then act like it's somehow his fault. The president has learned to just sort of like, you know, file away any irritations and go forward,” a Trump advisor told Axios.
However, Monday’s meeting seemingly had a far more positive outcome, with Zelensky later telling reporters that the bilateral with Trump had gone well. “I think that we had a very good conversation with President Trump, very good,” he said. “And it really was the best one, or, sorry, maybe the best one will be in the future.”
He also invited Trump to future peace talks with Putin, saying that he would be “happy” for the U.S. president to participate in trilateral talks, which Trump has expressed hope in.
“I think when we set that up, when we do — I think it's going to be when, not if — I think you're going to see some very, really positive moves,” he said. The president said he is set to talk to Putin later today following a wider meeting with other European leaders.
These key leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, are now discussing “possible exchanges of territory” and security guarantees for Ukraine.
Trump has not ruled out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees for the nation. Trump said the issue would be one of the topic discussed with the leaders.
