In the White House .. Trump praises Zelensky's elegance and talks about advanced weapons for Ukraine
In a notable shift from a previous stance, U.S. President Donald Trump praised the appearance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday, Friday, during their meeting at the White House, pointing to the elegance of his black jacket, considering it a symbol of a strong presence.
Trump said with a smile during a working lunch in the Cabinet Room:
"I think he looks handsome in that jacket, yes, handsome. I hope people notice. It's good, very elegant, and I like it."
This meeting came at a critical time, as Zelensky seeks to rally new support from Washington in the face of the ongoing Russian military operation on Ukrainian territory.
Trump added at the beginning of the meeting:
"It is an honor for me to be with a very strong leader, a man who has been through a lot, and a man I know very well, and we have agreed very well."
The U.S. president also confirmed that he intends to discuss the details of the phone call he had on Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that it was an "important call" that would be raised during the meeting with Zelensky.
Trump praised Zelensky's resilience, saying:
"He has endured a lot during the war his country is experiencing. We have endured it with him, and frankly, it has been a long time, and I think we are making great progress, so we will talk about that today."
Trump also revealed that the agenda for the meeting includes discussing new capabilities that could allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory, affirming, in response to a question about whether these capabilities were under discussion:
"We will discuss that. That's something we will discuss. You are right, it is an escalation, but we will discuss it."
* Zelensky's attire sparks controversy again
Trump's remarks about Zelensky's clothing recalled his previous comments made during a prior visit by the Ukrainian president in February, when he criticized his appearance at the time, considering his clothing to be "excessively informal."
Zelensky had chosen to wear a simple jacket during his previous visit, which was seen as a symbol of his role as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but some voices in the United States interpreted it at the time as a "sign of disrespect."
However, this time, it seemed that Trump viewed Zelensky's appearance as an expression of seriousness and elegance, reflecting a change in his impression and public stance towards his Ukrainian counterpart.
* Anticipated military partnership
The meeting between the two leaders comes amid news of a major military deal between Washington and Kyiv, where American sources indicated that Trump grants Zelensky the position of "real partner" in this deal, indicating an increase in the level of military cooperation between the two countries in the face of Russian escalation.
These developments come amid a volatile international scene, as attention turns to Washington to see how far the current Trump administration, or the next one if he wins again, will support Ukrainian ambitions to defend its territory and launch strategic strikes deep within Russia.
