Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared in a less formal look on Monday during his high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House , which was also attended by European leaders. He wore a black jacket instead of a formal suit for the summit.
Earlier, while preparing for the meeting at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington DC, Zelenskyy greeted European leaders in a black shirt with buttons paired with a black blazer.
During his previous visit to the White House, Zelenskyy’s casual attire had reportedly irritated Trump.
For this summit, Zelenskyy opted for a slightly more formal black outfit featuring Ukraine’s national emblem, yet still avoided wearing a full suit. He has not worn a suit since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The reporter who had previously criticised Zelenskyy’s attire said the Ukrainian president looks “fabulous” in his suit, and Trump added that he had said the same.
Zelenskyy then joked at the reporter, who apologised, saying, "I changed, you’re not," noting that the reporter was wearing the same suit.
There could be several reasons why Zelenskyy chose a slightly more formal look this time. But first, it’s worth understanding why he moved away from the usual presidential attire of suit, dress shirt, and tie.
From his election in 2019 until Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Zelenskyy dressed like a typical head of state: clean-shaven, in tailored suits, dress shoes, shirts, and ties.
After the invasion, however, he made a sartorial shift, favoring sweatshirts, cargo pants, and work boots. He has also been seen wearing a military-style vyshyvanka -- a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt that reflects the country’s cultural heritage.
#WATCH | Washington, DC | US President Donald Trump says, "The First Lady felt very strongly...She has great love for children and she has a wonderful son that she loves...She hates to see something like this happening and this goes for other wars too. She sees the heartbreak of… pic.twitter.com/MAeSH7Y2Xd
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2025
Earlier, while preparing for the meeting at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington DC, Zelenskyy greeted European leaders in a black shirt with buttons paired with a black blazer.
During his previous visit to the White House, Zelenskyy’s casual attire had reportedly irritated Trump.
For this summit, Zelenskyy opted for a slightly more formal black outfit featuring Ukraine’s national emblem, yet still avoided wearing a full suit. He has not worn a suit since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The reporter who had previously criticised Zelenskyy’s attire said the Ukrainian president looks “fabulous” in his suit, and Trump added that he had said the same.
Zelenskyy then joked at the reporter, who apologised, saying, "I changed, you’re not," noting that the reporter was wearing the same suit.
There could be several reasons why Zelenskyy chose a slightly more formal look this time. But first, it’s worth understanding why he moved away from the usual presidential attire of suit, dress shirt, and tie.
From his election in 2019 until Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Zelenskyy dressed like a typical head of state: clean-shaven, in tailored suits, dress shoes, shirts, and ties.
After the invasion, however, he made a sartorial shift, favoring sweatshirts, cargo pants, and work boots. He has also been seen wearing a military-style vyshyvanka -- a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt that reflects the country’s cultural heritage.
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