Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky swapped his polo shirt for a suitfor his meeting with Donald Trump and praised the US president on striking Iran.
Zelensky wore an black suit jacket for a sit-down meeting with Trump at the NATO summit – nearly four months after being criticised for donning his signature military-style garb to what descended into an Oval Office showdown.
Ukraine’s leader appeared to wear black trousers instead of suit pants, but nevertheless dressed noticeably different from his typically more casual attire.
Zelensky shared four photos of himself and Trump – who wore his trademark dark blue suit with a red-and-white striped tie and an American flag pin – speaking and shaking hands.
He wrote in his X (formerly Twitter) post that he had a ‘good meeting with @POTUS in The Hague’ in the Netherlands and commended Trump on carrying out airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.
‘I congratulated President Trump on the successful operation in the Middle East,’ wrote Zelensky on Wednesday.
‘It is important that the U.S. actions have weakened not only their nuclear program but also their drone production capabilities. We will continue to keep an eye on the situation.’
Zelensky detailed his talks with Trump on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, including the battlefield situation.
‘Putin is definitely not winning,’ Zelensky insisted.
He added that he is ready to purchase American air defence systems and support American weapons manufacturers, and possibly co-produce drones, allowing the US and Ukraine to ‘strengthen each other’.
Zelensky in another post said they ‘discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace’ during the ‘long and substantive meeting’, and thanked Trump and the US.
The Ukrainian president struck a overwhelmingly grateful tone, a far cry from his defiant in-person demeanor in February that led to the Trump administration asking him to leave the White House.
‘Thank you for the meeting and your support. I’m also grateful for the truly kind words about our people,’ Zelensky concluded.
‘We will keep working.’
Trump did not immediately remark on the meeting on the sidelines with Zelensky.
The US president’s focus has been on the Iran-Israel conflict, and all eyes have been on him since he launched airstrikes on Iran on Saturday and on Monday declared that both sides had agreed to a ceasefire. But Israel and Iran have continued missile attacks on each other.
Trump has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s latest offer to help mediate the Iran-Israel conflict.
‘I’d like to see a deal with Russia,’ Trump said on Tuesday before heading to the NATO summit.
‘As you know Vladimir called me up. He said, “Can I help you with Iran?” I said, “No, I don’t need help with Iran. I need help with you.”‘
Trump was furious about debate around the success of the bunker-busting bombs the US dropped on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.
He claims the US obliterated the sites, and Israel on Wednesday said that Iran’s nuclear program has been set back by ‘many years’.
Beside the compliments from Zelensky, Trump on Wednesday enjoyed being hailed as ‘daddy’ by NATO’s chief. Secretary General Mark Rutte defended Trump for dropping the F-bomb on live television over ceasefire violations.
‘Sometimes daddy has to use strong words,’ said Rutte.
Before departing the summit, Trump said that the US will meet with Iran next week. He provided little details, but said did not ‘think it was necessary’ to reach a deal with Tehran on its nuclear program.
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