In February, Volodymyr Zelensky met with Donald Trump and JD Vance in a disastrous summit in which he was chastised for failing to properly thank the US president and not wearing a suit
Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have wooed America’s ego-driven president with a simple wardrobe swap.
Yesterday marked Zelensky’s second ever visit to the White House after the disastrous February meeting saw him being hounded out of the building. He was asked to leave following a heated exchange with Donald Trump and his sidekick Vice President JD Vance. However, yesterday’s meeting was worlds apart, with a much more upbeat tone and feel as Trump and Zelensky were joined by seven European leaders to hash a route out of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump is believed to have contacted Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin in the hours after the meeting to discuss its outcomes. One of the key takeaways was plans for Putin and Zelensky to sit down for an unprecedented bilateral meeting in the coming weeks. But how did Zelensky manage to turn a former antagonist into a friend?
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The suit maketh the man
February’s fiasco was caused by a number of things, including accusations that Zelensky was being stubborn in refusing to engage in peace talks with Russia.
As a point of defiance in the face of Russian aggression, the wartime premier had always refused to engage with the idea of peace with tyrannical Putin.
However, the meeting also started on bad terms due to the Ukrainian president’s choice of attire. Zelensky usually wears camo military-style shirts and has been seen doing so in countless public appearances.
It’s thought he chooses the attire to show solidarity with the Ukrainian men and women serving in his army, and to reassure the public he is the man leading them through the conflict.
However, Trump was less than impressed with his outfit. At the time, Trump quipped, “Oh, you’re all dressed up” as he welcomed Zelensky into the Oval Office.
Yesterday things were markedly different after Zelensky showed up wearing a sharp black field jacket, black shirt and black trousers.
Outside the White House, a pro-Trump reporter told the Ukrainian president, “you look fabulous in that suit”, before Trump chimed in: “I said the same thing.”
“I can’t believe it, I love it,” he added as he shook his hand vigorously. He turned to Zelensky and said, “isn’t that nice? That’s the one who attacked you last time”, referring to the previous meeting when the reporter asked why he wasn’t wearing a suit at the White House.
Zelensky’s endless gratitude
Vice President JD Vance said the costume error showed Zelensky was disrespectful and ungrateful for Trump’s work trying to end the war. Vance, who was silent through yesterday’s meeting, asked him: “Have you said thank you once?
“Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who is trying to save your country.”
According to reports, the disastrous meeting led European leaders to step in to coach the Ukrainian premier on how to deal with the volatile and ego-driven US leader.
While cameras were rolling in the Oval Office, Zelensky thanked his host seven times during a minute of speech. He also thanked the president’s wife, Melania Trump after she sent a letter to Putin detailing human rights abuses involving the abduction of Ukrainian children.
“Thanks so much, Mr President,” he said. “If I can, first of all, thank you for the invitation, and thank you very much for your efforts, personal efforts, to stop killings and stop this war. Thank you.”