Donald Trump brutally mocks Volodymyr Zelensky seconds into White House meeting | World | News

Donald Trump appeared to mock Volodymyr Zelensky when he arrived at the White House on Friday for crunch Ukraine talks.

Footage from the moment the US President welcomed his Ukrainian counterpart showed Mr Trump saying: “He’s all dressed up today!”

His comments appeared to be a reference to Mr Zelensky’s dressed-down attire, which he has stuck with since Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine back in 2022.

The Ukrainian leader regularly meets world leaders in military fatigues, in an apparent show of solidarity with soldiers on the frontline of Ukraine‘s battle against Russia.

Mr Zelenksy usually wears olive green T-shirts, sweatshirts and combat trousers, but he opted for a buttoned up black shirt displaying the trident logo, which is a symbol of Ukraine.

In a light-hearted exchange inside the White House, Mr Trump praised Mr Zelensky’s attire, telling him he liked his clothing, to which Ukraine‘s President replied with surprise: “Oh really?”

Before that Mr Zelensky flashed a thumb’s up, but didn’t speak to reporters as he arrived at the White House.

Ukraine‘s delegation is expected to sign a landmark economic agreement with the US aimed at financing the reconstruction of the country, a deal which would closely tie the two countries together for years to come.

The deal is seen as a step towards ending the three-year war, but it leaves Ukraine‘s security for a separate agreement to be discussed between the two leaders. Those talks are tipped to start on Friday.

Kyiv has pushed to make sure a potential US-brokered peace plan will include guarantees for the country’s future security.

Many Ukrainians fear a hastily negotiated peace — especially one that makes too many concessions to Russian demands — would allow Moscow to re-arm and consolidate its forces for a future invasion after current hostilities end.

Under the preliminary economic agreement, the US and Ukraine will establish a co-owned, jointly managed investment fund to which Ukraine will contribute 50% of future revenues from natural resources, including minerals, hydrocarbons and other extractable materials.

A more detailed agreement on establishing the fund will be drawn up once the preliminary one is signed.

Mr Trump has framed the emerging agreement as a chance for Kyiv to compensate the US for wartime aid sent under his predecessor, President Joe Biden.

Mr Zelensky has remained firm that specific assurances for Ukraine’s security must accompany any agreement giving US access to Ukraine’s resources.

He said the agreement may be part of future security guarantees, but he wanted to understand the broader vision.