Volodymyr Zelenskyy has learned his lesson from the last time he was in the Oval Office.
When the Ukrainian leader was at the White House in February, he didn’t wear a suit and was berated by Donald Trump and JD Vance over alleged disrespect.
Trump-Zelenskyy latest: NATO-style security guarantees
Zelenskyy’s learned from that moment six months ago and he’s taken on board what other European and world leaders have done with these Oval Office moments – that the best policy is to say as little as possible.
Such was the contrast that the right-wing reporter Brian Glenn, who questioned Zelenskyy over not wearing a suit in February, told the Ukrainian leader: “You look fabulous in that suit.”
The best tactic for dealing with Trump in front of reporters is to not answer the question, don’t rise to the bait.
Get in there and out as soon and as quickly as you can. And this time, that is precisely what Zelenskyy did.
Did Vance learn his lesson too?
The vice president berated Zelenskyy last time but this time, while the US president’s key advisers were there, JD Vance sat quietly to Trump’s side, saying nothing altogether.
It was a marked contrast from six months ago, but some sort of “gulf between the two sides in terms of any peace deal” continues.
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Putin ‘demands key regions of Ukraine’
Melania’s influence
The influence of Melania Trump seems apparent again.
The US first lady sent a letter to Vladimir Putin via Trump at the Alaska summit on Friday, calling for the war to end.
And on Monday, Zelenskyy gave Trump a letter from his own wife for Melania.
