Volodimir Zelenski arriving at the dinner offered by the King of the Netherlands, before the NATO summit in The Hague. Photo credit: Rut / Splashnews.com / Splash / Profimedia
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski also adjusted his wardrobe from the disastrous meeting in the Oval Office with Donald Trump, from February, changing the T-shirts and Kaki blouses typical of military style with black shirts and jackets, somewhat more formal, but also in a robust style, comments on Wednesday.
Ever since his country was invaded by Russia almost three and a half years ago, the Ukrainian leader wanted to show through the adopted outfit with the troops fighting on the front against the forces of Moscow.
But during his visit to Washington at the end of February, Zelenski was reprimanded by an American reporter because he did not wear a suit at the White House meeting, a meeting that degenerated shortly in an heated exchange, to the Ukrainian president reproaching him, among others, that he would not have sufficient for the US. The meeting ended suddenly, and a press conference and a planned lunch were canceled after the confrontation in the Oval Office.
Since then, Zelenski has endeavored to rebuild relations with Washington, whose military aid Kiev still needs, even though the US president has not given any sign that he wants to resume the armament deliveries instituted by his predecessor Joe Biden.
When Zelenski met Trump at Pope Francis's funerals, in Rome, in April, he wore a black military jacket and a black shirt, completed to the collar, without a tie.
He wore a similar outfit both Monday, at the London meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as Tuesday night at the dinner, Dineu, who preceded the NATO Summit on Wednesday.
Although he was not invited to the actual meeting of NATO leaders, Zelenski subsequently had a separate meeting with Trump, having on the agenda a list of the weapon that the Ukrainians would like to purchase from the US.
This subtle change – which did not involve the white or tie, however, – drew the attention of the social networks and the Ukrainian edition of the magazine Elle, which described the change of look as “a visual diplomacy of a new type.”
The negative accent that was placed on Zelenski's clothing at the White House was intensely criticized by the Ukrainians, who largely rallied to their leader since triggering the large-scale Russian invasion, in February 2022.
