Washington, 18 October (H.S.): 2025During a lunch in the Cabinet Room on Friday, President Trump commended the Ukrainian leader’s appearance, remarking, I think he looks beautiful in this jacket, yes, beautiful, I hope people notice. It’s good, it’s actually very stylish, I like it. This marks a significant departure from Zelensky’s typical olive-green fatigues, a symbol of his country’s defense since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

This is not the first instance of Zelensky opting for formalwear when meeting with Trump. In a previous meeting in August, he wore a similar black formal jacket, which also received a nod of approval from Trump

. That encounter stood in stark contrast to an earlier, more tense meeting after Trump took office, where Zelensky’s military-style polo and trousers were perceived by some US officials as disrespectful.

A conservative reporter who had previously criticized Zelensky’s clothing choices praised his suit during the August meeting, to which Trump agreed.The meeting occurs against a backdrop of diplomatic maneuvers aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It comes just one day after President Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war.

In the preceding months, Trump has positioned himself as a mediator, expressing intentions to arrange direct peace talks between Zelensky and Putin.

President Zelensky had previously stated he would continue wearing military clothing until peace was restored to Ukraine. The black jacket worn in his recent formal appearances was designed by Kyiv-based designer Viktor Anisimov and has been seen at other high-profile international events, including the funeral of Pope Francis and a NATO summit in The Hague.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar