Volodymyr Zelensky may be unwilling to make political and territorial concessions in his war with Russia, but on Monday, the Ukrainian president made allowances of his own, arriving at the White House in a suit jacket.

President Trump has offered only vague assurances of security guarantees for Ukraine if President Volodymyr Zelensky agrees to cut a deal with Russia.

It was a striking contrast to the meeting six months ago, when Trump, red-faced and angry, accused an agitated Zelensky of failing to show enough gratitude to the United States. The blowup was so heated that the Ukrainian delegation was sent from the White House without being allowed to eat their waiting lunch.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that he would like to see President Trump participate in a future meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, should such a face-to-face come to fruition.

New negotiation, new look. When President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine arrived at the White House on Monday to meet with President Trump, he had swapped the military-style clothing that has been his de facto uniform since the war with Russia began in 2022, for a more statesmanlike ensemble: black field jacket, black shirt and black slacks.

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that Monday’s gathering would eventually pave the way for three-way talks with Vladimir Putin.

The Ukrainian president’s black suit-style jacket drew praise in a meeting with President Trump after his attire sparked a testy exchange in February.

President Donald Trump and others mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in March when he showed up at the White House in his customary military-style fatigues. Zelensky apparently got the message.