Will Zelenskyy wear a suit? White House asked Ukraine. He's going in a black jacket

The White House has asked Ukrainian officials whether Volodymyr Zelenskyy will wear a suit to his Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump on Monday (August 18), according to a report by Axios citing two people with direct knowledge of the preparations. The Ukrainian president plans to arrive in a black jacket similar to the business-style one he wore at the NATO summit in the Netherlands in June, rather than a full suit and tie.

Clothes became a flashpoint at Zelenskyy’s previous Oval Office encounter in March, when Trump bristled at his military-style look and the meeting unravelled. Advisers on both sides now say the optics are being handled more carefully, even as Zelenskyy prepares to stick with his signature pared-back aesthetic.

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Why the outfit matter

Trump places stock in leaders “looking the part”, which in his view means a suit. His irritation last time went beyond clothes, advisers say, but the attire set an early tone that proved unhelpful. A Trump adviser quipped that a suit would be a positive sign for peace, while acknowledging they do not expect Zelenskyy to wear one.

There is internal theatre here too. US officials suggest vice-president JD Vance took particular issue with Zelenskyy’s appearance and approach during the last visit. The “tie thing”, one source said, started with Vance. Zelenskyy is not expected to wear a tie on Monday.

Zelenskyy to wear jacket

Kyiv officials say the president will opt for a black jacket that reads as “suit-style” without being a conventional suit. The Nato summit in June marked his first outing in business attire since Russia’s 2022 invasion, and US officials noted Trump responded more favourably to that look. The aim this time is to balance wartime authenticity with the formality of the Oval Office.

Will the meeting be different?

Both camps insist it will. Trump advisers say Zelenskyy has become more adept at framing his arguments for the former president. One adviser said Trump has learned to set aside irritations and move the conversation forward.

European leaders are also expected to be part of the Washington programme around the visit, which officials believe will give the talks a different complexion to March.