Zelenskyy Ditches Combat Look At NATO, Suits Up After Trump’s Oval Office Rebuke

Last Updated:June 25, 2025, 22:46 IST

Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared at the NATO summit in The Hague wearing a black suit-style jacket and shirt- a noticeable departure from his wartime wardrobe.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy at NATO (Image Credit: Reuters)

Months after he was publicly ridiculed during a tense Oval Office meeting with US President Donald Trump for not wearing a suit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared at the NATO summit in The Hague wearing a black suit-style jacket and shirt- a noticeable departure from his wartime wardrobe. Though tieless, the look marked a subtle shift in visual tone from his usual combat gear to something more diplomatically formal- a change which came after a disastrous February meeting with Donald Trump in Washington,

At the time, Zelenskyy’s decision to show up to the White House in his trademark military attire was questioned as a reported asked him, “Why don’t you wear a suit? Do you own a suit?"

Zelenskyy, visibly annoyed, responded sharply, “I will wear costume after this war finishes. Maybe something like yours. Maybe something better." (In Ukrainian, “kostyum" refers to a suit.)

Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Zelenskyy has been seen in military-style gear- sweatshirts, field jackets, cargo pants- to project solidarity with troops on the front lines. Even during diplomatic visits abroad, including meetings with Pope Francis and world leaders like UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Zelenskyy has kept to that dress code.

Donald Trump- Zelenskyy Meeting At NATO 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a “good meeting" with US President Donald Trump in The Hague on the sidelines of the NATO summit and thanked him for continued American support. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zelenskyy said he congratulated Donald Trump on the “successful operation in the Middle East," noting that it had weakened not only Iran’s nuclear program but also its drone production capabilities.

A key focus of the conversation, Zelenskyy said, was the urgent need to protect Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.

“We discussed the protection of our people… the purchase of American air defense systems to shield our cities, our people, churches, and infrastructure," he wrote. On the battlefield front, Zelenskyy told Donald Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is definitely not winning," and that he had presented a detailed update on the situation on the ground.

Location :

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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News world Zelenskyy Ditches Combat Look At NATO, Suits Up After Trump’s Oval Office Rebuke