Trump, Zelensky strike softer tone in Washington meeting

The optics could not have been more different this time. Unlike their tense and ill-tempered encounter in February, US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, projected a noticeably calmer image during their latest meeting at the White House.

The Oval Office session on Tuesday was marked by careful courtesies. Zelensky, dressed in a collared suit that was formal but not entirely classical, received a compliment on his appearance from Trump.

The Ukrainian leader, in turn, offered repeated expressions of gratitude, a gesture that seemed to sit well with his American host.

Though the cordial exchanges painted a friendlier picture, the underlying differences between the two leaders remain unresolved.

Zelensky kept his remarks brief, appearing either cautious about contradicting Trump or reluctant to delve into matters where their positions diverge.

The meeting underscored both leaders’ efforts to avoid the public friction that marred their earlier encounter, even as questions linger about the depth of their alignment on key issues affecting Ukraine’s security and its relationship with the United States.