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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended a dinner for NATO leaders hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima during a NATO Summit at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 24, 2025. The last time Zelensky visited the White House, his military-style attire drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who dresses in suits daily. That February meeting was marked by a tense exchange between the two leaders, ending prematurely with Zelensky leaving without lunch.
On Monday, amid mounting pressure for Ukraine to accept a peace agreement to end Europe’s most deadly war in 80 years, Zelensky appeared at his meetings with Trump dressed more formally. The outfit, a black ensemble without a tie, was not a traditional suit but seemed to meet Trump’s approval. A reporter who had asked Zelensky in February about his attire praised his current look during their latest Oval Office meeting, to which Trump agreed, saying, “I said the same thing.” Zelensky responded with humor, teasing the reporter about his wardrobe change: “You’re wearing the same suit. I’ve changed.”
Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Zelensky often wore military-style clothing to show solidarity with Ukrainian troops. However, after the February Trump meeting, he adopted a more formal look. When the two leaders met again in April at Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome, Zelensky wore a heavy black field jacket and a black shirt, without a tie.
The earlier focus on Zelensky’s attire at the White House drew widespread criticism in Ukraine, where public sentiment has largely rallied behind Zelensky since Russia’s invasion. In recent days, Trump stated that the U.S. would support Europe in providing security for Ukraine as part of any peace deal, as he and Zelensky held a quick White House meeting to discuss steps toward peace. Trump also indicated that he no longer thought a ceasefire was necessary before a peace agreement, aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance — a position opposed by Zelensky and most European leaders.
“We will help secure Europe’s defense,” Trump said, emphasizing U.S. support and European involvement. “They are the first line of defense because they’re there, but we will assist them.”
Zelensky was also endorsed by leaders from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, the European Union, and NATO. They traveled to Washington to show their support for Ukraine and to advocate for strong security guarantees in any post-war settlement.
After their private meeting, Trump and Zelensky appeared publicly alongside European leaders before additional multilateral discussions. Zelensky described their conversation as “very productive,” highlighting the importance of U.S. security commitments to Ukraine. “It’s vital that the United States signals its support and readiness to provide security guarantees,” he said.
Trump indicated that their talks covered extensive topics and once again proposed a three-way summit involving Putin, Zelensky, and himself to broker peace, a plan Zelensky expressed support for.
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