{"id":1074,"date":"2025-08-18T21:11:53","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T21:11:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/?p=1074"},"modified":"2025-08-18T21:11:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T21:11:53","slug":"zelenskyy-charms-trump-in-the-oval-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/?p=1074","title":{"rendered":"Zelenskyy charms Trump in the Oval Office"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__content-sign-up-topic-description o3-type-body-base\">Your guide to what Trump\u2019s second term means for Washington, business and the world<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"article__content-sign-up-iframe close\" scrolling=\"no\" id=\"signUpIframe\" data-prev-url=\"\/register\/in-article-sign-up?ft-content-uuid=1a1a0be2-2bb2-49b8-ab2b-85707a3976d4&amp;newsletter-id=65b8fec772badb00166eafc6\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p>From the moment Donald Trump greeted Volodymyr Zelenskyy outside the West Wing on Monday afternoon, there seemed to be less personal tension between the men compared with their public spat in late February. <\/p>\n<p>Zelenskyy\u2019s allies had feared another public showdown in the Oval Office \u2014 with consequences for Trump\u2019s attitude to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Their fears were unfounded.<\/p>\n<p>The Ukrainian president had accepted Trump\u2019s plea to wear a suit for the occasion instead of his usual military garb. The US president smiled and when a reporter asked what his message was to the people of Ukraine, he responded: \u201cWe love them.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Inside the Oval Office \u2014 scene of the bust-up almost six months ago \u2014 vice-president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio were sitting in the same positions on the sofa next to the two leaders. <\/p>\n<p>Vance berated Zelenskyy in February, telling him bluntly that he needed to be more grateful for US support in his war against Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion. This time he said nothing. Only the two presidents spoke. <\/p>\n<p>The ingredients for a new falling out were certainly there. Just last Friday Trump rolled out the red carpet to welcome President Vladimir Putin to a summit in Anchorage, Alaska \u2014 and then sided with the Russia\u2019s leader\u2019s stance on the war. Trump dropped his demand for the immediate ceasefire that Zelenskyy and European allies had been pushing for.<\/p>\n<p>The US president also signalled that Ukraine may even need to cede more land to Russia to make peace \u2014 a proposition that is fiercely rejected by Kyiv.<\/p>\n<p>But the US did open the door to providing some unspecified security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a peace deal, as long as other European countries and Nato allies bore most of the burden.<\/p>\n<p>In a Truth Social post on Monday morning, Trump was clear that this would not involve Nato membership for Ukraine. His comments alongside Zelenskyy in the Oval Office gave a bit more detail and reiterated his view that Europeans would take the lead.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will give [Ukraine] very good protection, very good security,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThey are the first line of defence because they\u2019re there, they\u2019re Europe. But we\u2019re going to help them out also. We\u2019ll be involved.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>One light-hearted moment, about the black suit Zelenskyy was wearing, cut through the encounter\u2019s high stakes. <\/p>\n<p>Brian Glenn, a reporter of conservative network Real America\u2019s Voice \u2014 and a partner of the firebrand Maga congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene \u2014 had criticised Zelenskyy in February for turning up at the White House in the wartime fatigues he has become known for.<\/p>\n<p>For a time after that bad-tempered Oval Office meeting, conservative media in the US seized on his attire to criticise the Ukrainian leader.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"n-content-image n-content-image--full\" data-component=\"image-set\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 700px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab27f5b14-9b6d-4697-b710-70af17f80438?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=1 1x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab27f5b14-9b6d-4697-b710-70af17f80438?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=2 2x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab27f5b14-9b6d-4697-b710-70af17f80438?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=3 3x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab27f5b14-9b6d-4697-b710-70af17f80438?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=4 4x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab27f5b14-9b6d-4697-b710-70af17f80438?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=5 5x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab27f5b14-9b6d-4697-b710-70af17f80438?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=6 6x\" width=\"4262\" height=\"2841\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2Fb27f5b14-9b6d-4697-b710-70af17f80438.jpg?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=1\" alt=\"US President Donald Trump greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on August 18 2025 in Washington, DC\" data-image-type=\"image\" width=\"4262\" height=\"2841\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"n-content-picture__caption o3-editorial-typography-caption\"><span>Trump greets Zelenskyy at the White House<\/span><span> <!-- -->\u00a9 Tasos Katopodis\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On Monday, the two men exchanged a friendly laugh about Zelenskyy\u2019s upgraded outfit. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou look fabulous in that suit,\u201d Glenn said. Trump agreed, saying he told Zelenskyy \u201cthe same thing\u201d. The Ukrainian president then joked that Glenn was wearing the same suit as in February. <\/p>\n<p>As well as changing attire, Zelenskyy also praised a letter that US first lady Melania Trump had sent to Putin about the fate of Ukrainian children, including those abducted by Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Zelenskyy handed a letter from his own wife to the first lady. \u201cIt\u2019s not to you, [it\u2019s] to your wife,\u201d Zelenskyy told Trump, in a moment of levity. \u201cI want it,\u201d the US president said, with a grin.<\/p>\n<p>Trump and Zelenskyy were later joined for lunch by a large cast of European leaders, who hastily flew to Washington to support the Ukrainian leader. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"n-content-image n-content-image--full\" data-component=\"image-set\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 700px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab164c18f-5f38-4c33-9de8-61bdff436e87?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=1 1x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab164c18f-5f38-4c33-9de8-61bdff436e87?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=2 2x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab164c18f-5f38-4c33-9de8-61bdff436e87?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=3 3x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab164c18f-5f38-4c33-9de8-61bdff436e87?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=4 4x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab164c18f-5f38-4c33-9de8-61bdff436e87?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=5 5x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab164c18f-5f38-4c33-9de8-61bdff436e87?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=6 6x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab164c18f-5f38-4c33-9de8-61bdff436e87?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=7 7x,https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/ftcms%3Ab164c18f-5f38-4c33-9de8-61bdff436e87?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=8 8x\" width=\"6000\" height=\"4000\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/https%3A%2F%2Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%2Fproduction%2Fb164c18f-5f38-4c33-9de8-61bdff436e87.jpg?source=next-article&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;quality=highest&amp;width=700&amp;dpr=1\" alt=\"Ukraine supporters participate in a rally outside of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House ahead of the meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European leaders and US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on August 18 2025\" data-image-type=\"image\" width=\"6000\" height=\"4000\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"n-content-picture__caption o3-editorial-typography-caption\"><span>Ukrainian supporters join a rally outside the White House<\/span><span> <!-- -->\u00a9  Amid Farahi\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That too marked a big change compared to the clash six months ago, when the Ukrainian leader left the White House abruptly, his own meal with the president scrapped \u2014 and America\u2019s allies watched in shock from across the Atlantic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[They are] all friends of mine and friends of yours\u2009.\u2009.\u2009.\u2009they want to see peace,\u201d Trump said of the European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, France\u2019s President Emmanuel Macron, and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, who had arrived at the White House a few minutes before Zelenskyy.<\/p>\n<p>Zelenskyy seemed satisfied in his public comments with Trump and the entire group around the table. \u201cI think that we had a very good conversation with President Trump, very good. And it really was the best one,\u201d the Ukrainian leader said. \u201cOr sorry, maybe the best one will be in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite the much improved tone of the meeting, the outcome of a diplomatic gathering in the White House that could determine not just the fate of Ukraine but Europe\u2019s security as a whole was not settled early in the afternoon.<\/p>\n<aside aria-labelledby=\"aside-label\" class=\"n-content-recommended--single-story n-content-recommended--inset\" data-component=\"recommended\">\n<p class=\"n-content-recommended__title o3-type-body-highlight\">Recommended<\/p>\n<div class=\"o-teaser o-teaser--article o-teaser--small o-teaser--stacked o-teaser--has-image o-teaser--opinion js-teaser\" data-id=\"3515cf9c-a055-49d2-b25b-9f2a0b60c429\">\n<div class=\"o-teaser__image-container js-teaser-image-container\">\n<div class=\"o-teaser__image-placeholder\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2491\/1401\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"o-teaser__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/__origami\/service\/image\/v2\/images\/raw\/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2F__origami%2Fservice%2Fimage%2Fv2%2Fimages%2Fraw%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fd1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net%252Fproduction%252Fa2149d04-5fad-4249-b77e-0685a7818674.jpg%3Fsource%3Dnext-article%26fit%3Dscale-down%26quality%3Dhighest%26width%3D700%26dpr%3D1?source=next&amp;fit=scale-down&amp;dpr=2&amp;width=240\" alt=\"James Ferguson cartoon illustration of Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Putin and Trump reflected in sunglasses\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Just before the press was ushered out of the Oval Office, Trump reminded everyone that Putin would also determine what happened next, including a trilateral meeting with him and Zelenskyy. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just spoke to president Putin indirectly, and we\u2019re going to have a phone call right after these meetings today,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWe may or may not have a trilat. If we don\u2019t have a trilat, then the fighting continues,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>#Zelenskyy #charms #Trump #Oval #Office<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what Trump\u2019s second term means for Washington, business and the world From the moment Donald Trump greeted Volodymyr Zelenskyy outside the West Wing on Monday afternoon, there seemed to be less personal tension between the men compared with their public spat in late February. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1075,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[762,433,763,82,419],"class_list":{"0":"post-1074","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-charms","9":"tag-office","10":"tag-oval","11":"tag-trump","12":"tag-zelenskyy"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldpumpnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}