By Georgi Kantchev

One detail of President Trump's meeting Monday with Volodymyr Zelensky drew particular notice: the Ukrainian president's attire.

Zelensky's decision not to wear a suit at their February meeting sparked a testy exchange. The White House requested that Zelensky wear a suit and tie for Monday's meeting.

Zelensky wore a black suit-style jacket. The same reporter who had questioned his attire in February, Brian Glenn of Real America's Voice, complimented his suit on Monday: "You look fabulous in that suit."

Trump agreed, and Zelensky noted that the reporter appeared to be wearing the same suit as he had in February.

Here's a look at how the Ukrainian leader's style has evolved over the years.

Before the presidency

Before becoming president of Ukraine, Zelensky, a former comedian and entertainer, often wore tailored suits -- or the clothes of the character he was portraying on stage or television. During a 2006 appearance in Ukraine's version of "Dancing With The Stars," he wore a tee-shirt with a soccer-ball graphic on the front and a vibrant pink suit.

During the 2019 presidential campaign, Zelensky, who was generally known for adopting a more casual style, generally wore suits or smart-casual outfits often seen in mainstream political campaigns.

Looking presidential

After becoming president of Ukraine in 2019, he adopted a formal appearance -- suits and corporate attire were his go-to.

At his presidential inauguration, Zelensky wore a dark blue suit, white shirt, blue tie, all adorned with a ceremonial chain of office, consisting of linked medallions, each displaying the Ukrainian national emblem.

After the Russian invasion

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Zelensky has adopted military-style attire in public including olive-drab jackets, hoodies and T-shirts, along with a slight beard. He has vowed not to return to formal civilian dress until Ukraine is at peace. His style has become an overt symbol of the war and an expression of solidarity with front-line soldiers.

Zelensky has also worn green military gear and tactical clothing when visiting the front line.

The White House dust-up

In February, Zelensky, wearing a military-style shirt, visited the White House for a meeting that descended into a fraught encounter during which he received a public dressing-down from Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Early in the meeting, Glenn, the U.S. reporter, asked him why he wasn't wearing a suit. The Ukrainian leader responded that when his country isn't at war, he will wear a nice suit -- and perhaps nicer than the blue one the reporter was wearing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sitting on a sofa, frowned and looked away as Vance laughed at the question.

Monday's meeting

On Monday, Zelensky arrived for his meeting with Trump wearing a black suit-style jacket over a black shirt. Welcoming him to the White House, Trump gestured to his clothing.

"Best I have," Zelensky said.

"I cannot believe it, I love it," Trump responded, shaking Zelensky's hand.

Zelensky previously wore a similar attire at the NATO summit in The Hague in June. There, the Ukrainian leader wore a black military-style jacket, black shirt, black pants.

Write to Georgi Kantchev at georgi.kantchev@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 18, 2025 15:11 ET (19:11 GMT)

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