Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came dressed for diplomacy.
The last time Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in February – an acrimonious meeting that ended abruptly – he said he’d wear a suit after the Russian war on his country had ended.
The declaration came after a reporter asked Zelenskyy, who was wearing a black sweatshirt, black slacks and boots, why he was not wearing a suit while visiting the “highest level” office in the country.
I’ll “wear the costume after the war is finished,” he replied. Kostium is the Ukrainian word for suit.
This time, his sartorial choice as well as his choice of words seemed carefully designed to insulate him from another unceremonious exit from the Oval Office. But perhaps his willingness to don a suit to the meeting, three days after Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, also revealed that peace could possibly be within reach.
No suit, no lunch, no respect: Zelenskyy-Trump feud started with a fashion dig
As Zelenskyy emerged from his limousine at the White House outfitted in a monochromatic look with a black shirt, slacks and jacket, Trump gave him a once-over while flashing a big smile, clearly pleased at his guest’s style.
Minutes later, he seconded a reporter – the same reporter who had been critical of Zelenskyy’s casual clothing choice in February – who was now paying him a compliment.
“You look fabulous in that suit,” Brian Glenn, White House correspondent for the pro-Trump network Real America’s Voice told Zelenskyy.
“I said the same thing,” said Trump.
Zelenskyy also came prepared to heap praise on Trump for his efforts to bring an end to the war. During the February visit, Vice President JD Vance, berated him for not expressing his gratitude for the support of the U.S. and to Trump.
“Have you said thank you once?” Vance said at the time. “Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who is trying to save your country.”
During the Aug. 18 meeting, Zelenskyy peppered his opening with four thank you’s in the first two sentences – expressing his gratitude for the invitation, Trump’s personal efforts to end the war and to First lady Melania Trump for the letter she wrote to Putin generally advocating for children. It did not mention Ukraine.
Zelenskyy had another weapon in his arsenal, a mirroring technique, known to elicit positive reactions: He came bearing a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, for the First lady Melania Trump, just like the one she had sent for Putin with her husband.
Zelenskyy’s efforts, and the fact that he was joined by a European delegation, seemed help keep discussions on the right track.
Trump did not rule out U.S. support for Ukraine if diplomatic efforts didn’t pan out, even though he has repeatedly called for concessions by Ukraine.
“We will give them very good protection — very good security. That’s part of it,” he said.
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zelenskyy brings charm, dapper look to Trump meeting
