Suits you: ‘Fabulous’ Zelensky outfit wows Trump
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Mr Zelensky's black-on-black ensemble, sans tie, wasn't exactly a suit, but it seemed to please Mr Trump all the same.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - The fates of nations have rarely, if ever, been decided by sartorial choices.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was certainly hoping that a spot of fashion diplomacy Aug 18 could get US counterpart Donald Trump to help his country reach a peace deal with Russia.
Despite the life-and-death matters unfolding in Ukraine, much of the speculation among the White House press corps was about whether Mr Zelensky would wear a suit.
In February, Ukraine’s wartime leader was ridiculed by a right-wing US reporter for wearing military-style garb instead of a business suit when he visited the Oval Office.
That mocking exchange set the tone for an astonishing blow-up
What a difference six months makes.
“I can’t believe it, I love it!” said Mr Trump, 79, as he admired Mr Zelensky’s smart black jacket and collared black shirt upon the Ukrainian leader’s arrival at the White House.
“It’s the best I had,” joked Mr Zelensky, a former television comedian before turning president.
‘You look fabulous!’
The light-hearted appreciation for the 47-year-old’s outfit continued inside the Oval Office itself – the scene of Mr Zelensky’s earlier humiliation.
“President Zelensky, you look fabulous in that suit!” said Mr Brian Glenn, the reporter for Real America’s Voice who had asked the original question back in February.
Mr Trump joined in, saying “I said the same thing” – and telling Mr Zelensky that “that’s the one that attacked you last time.”
“I remember,” deadpanned the Ukrainian, before adding to the American reporter that “you are wearing the same suit” as six months ago.
Mr Zelensky also turned on the charm for Mr Trump – a billionaire who is rarely seen in anything except one of his trademark tailored blue suits – in other ways.
He brought a letter for Mrs Melania Trump from his wife Olena thanking the US first lady for writing to Mr Putin and urging him to save children’s lives.
The focus on Mr Zelensky’s outfit – instead of the nitty-gritty of peace negotiations to end a war that has killed tens of thousands of people – may seem bizarre to some.
But it also underscores the extent to which foreign leaders have had to woo a notoriously capricious US president.
‘Do I look ok?’
Mr Zelensky in particular has had to work hard to win over Mr Trump, who has long been sceptical about US support for Ukraine and its multi-billion-dollar war cost.
Mr Trump has also openly expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, not least during their extraordinary cordial greetings during their summit in Alaska last week
The US leader had also echoed several of Mr Putin’s talking points about the war, including in recent days on the need for Ukraine to give up Crimea and its ambitions of joining Nato.
Hence the multi-pronged diplomatic offensive at the White House on Aug 18 – beginning with Mr Zelensky and his black jacket, and followed up with a posse of European leaders.
The Europeans paid homage to what they said were Mr Trump’s efforts to reach a peace deal, but their visit was also designed as a show of support for Kyiv against any call for too many concessions.
The Ukrainian was reportedly given training on how to deal with Mr Trump by European leaders, especially Finnish President Alexander Stubb – who himself wore a double-breasted suit and won praise from the American president for his youthful vigour.
Mr Zelensky was notably less pugnacious than in February – and even thanked Mr Trump for a map that showed how much territory Russia had taken from Ukraine.
Nato chief Mark Rutte meanwhile made light of the debate about Mr Zelensky’s attire.
“Do I look OK?” the Dutchman said to Mr Trump’s protocol chief with a laugh as he buttoned up his suit jacket on arrival at the White House. AFP
