Thinking back, Volodymyr Zelensky’s last visit to the Oval Office must have been pretty rough for him. The negative remarks, weird glances, and even comments on his clothing were not exactly the warm welcome he might have hoped for.
This time it felt different. With more prep under his belt, Zelensky was able to stand tall, even though things are still looking pretty grim for Ukraine. He and his allies pulled off a couple of diplomatic moves that seemed to allow them to win back some ground with Donald Trump that appeared lost for a while.
First up was the clothing matter. (A silly aspect to pick on, I know, but it’s relevant.)
Previously, Zelensky’s outfit really got on people’s nerves. This visit, though, he sported a black field jacket—just like the one he wore for Pope Francis’ funeral in April—showing respect yet keeping it real.
Trump seemed impressed and even enjoyed it. Plus, when a reporter who had previously scrutinized him asked about his new outfit, Zelensky smoothly responded with a cheeky remark: “You’re in the same suit. I’ve changed; you haven’t.” Everyone burst into laughter, but the barbed edge delivered a clear message.
This was classic Zelensky and the Europeans working the room: flattering Trump while subtly nudging the situation in their favor.
Another memorable moment was when Zelensky handed a letter from his wife to the First Lady as a nod to how Melania had previously written to Putin to advocate for children’s safety.
He cleverly remarked, “It’s not for you, it’s for your wife,” and Trump received it with open arms.
This act carried a clever dual meaning: demonstrating friendship from the U.S. while making it highly personal for Trump. It appeared to be geared strategically to win him over.
And it looked like it paid off! While larger concerns loom for Ukraine, compared to the strange Alaska summit, this time, the European alliances marked some notable diplomatic victories.
Importantly, Zelensky seemed successful in convincing Trump that he genuinely seeks peace, breaking away from the past assumptions that he was a block against progress.
This led to a remarkable move—Trump didn’t shut down the idea of American troops being deployed as part of a security agreement. “They [Europe] will be the first line of defense since they’re right there… but we’re going to be involved too,” he noted.
Such a declaration would have seemed far-fetched at the very start of Trump’s second term. Yet here it was—a significant diplomatic stride for Europe!
But that wasn’t the end of it. In a late-night post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned he was beginning to set up a conversation between Zelensky and Putin.
This could be a win for Ukraine since such a dialog would require Putin to begrudgingly acknowledge Zelensky’s authority, which isn’t unintentionally embarrassing for the Kremlin.
So what’s the endgame here? If the events in Alaska felt more like cozying up to a brutal leader, Monday’s encounters could be recognized as a small diplomatic boost for Ukraine.
This time around, it looks like Putin might be feeling the heat. If he lashes out and destroys the chances for a deal or future discussions, he might end up with the blame.
This could bring actual consequences from the White House, which is itching to see the war come to an end. Could there be sanctions? Quite possibly! Whatever happens, it appears Trump could be swaying back toward supporting Ukraine, thus giving them extra leverage.
It’s tricky to predict the next steps, but finding glimmers of hope feels essential—through Ukrainian lenses, things seem a tad more optimistic than they did last week. Incredible what a field jacket, a personal note, and some charm can accomplish.
