Latest news with #USsupport
France 24
16 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Suits you: 'Fabulous' Zelensky outfit wows Trump
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was certainly hoping that a spot of fashion diplomacy Monday could get US counterpart Donald Trump to help his country reach a peace deal with Russia. Despite the life-and-death matters unfolding in Ukraine, much of the speculation among the White House press corps was about whether Zelensky would wear a suit. In February, Ukraine's wartime leader was ridiculed by a right-wing US reporter for wearing military-style garb instead of a business suit when he visited the Oval Office. That mocking exchange set the tone for an astonishing blow-up a few minutes later when Trump and Vice President JD Vance proceeded to berate Zelensky for not being "grateful" for US support against Russia's invasion. What a difference six months makes. "I can't believe it, I love it!" said Trump, 79, as he admired Zelensky's smart black jacket and collared black shirt upon the Ukrainian leader's arrival at the White House. "It's the best I had," joked Zelensky, a former television comedian before turning president. 'You look fabulous!' The light-hearted appreciation for the 47-year-old's outfit continued inside the Oval Office itself -- the scene of Zelensky's earlier humiliation. "President Zelensky, you look fabulous in that suit!" said Brian Glenn, the reporter for Real America's Voice who had asked the original question back in February. Trump joined in, saying "I said the same thing" -- and telling Zelensky that "that's the one that attacked you last time." "I remember," deadpanned the Ukrainian, before adding to the American reporter that "you are wearing the same suit" as six months ago. Zelensky also turned on the charm for Trump -- a billionaire who is rarely seen in anything except one of his trademark tailored blue suits -- in other ways. He brought a letter for Melania Trump from his wife Olena thanking the US first lady for writing to Putin and urging him to save children's lives. The focus on Zelensky's outfit -- instead of the nitty-gritty of peace negotiations to end a war that has killed tens of thousands of people -- may seem bizarre to some. But it also underscores the extent to which foreign leaders have had to woo a notoriously capricious US president. 'Do I look ok?' Zelensky in particular has had to work hard to win over Trump, who has long been skeptical about US support for Ukraine and its multi-billion-dollar war cost. Trump has also openly expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, not least during their extraordinary cordial greetings during their summit in Alaska last week. The US leader had also echoed several of Putin's talking points about the war, including in recent days on the need for Ukraine to give up Crimea and its ambitions of joining NATO. Hence the multi-pronged diplomatic offensive at the White House on Monday -- beginning with Zelensky and his black jacket, and followed up with a posse of European leaders. The Europeans paid homage to what they said were Trump's efforts to reach a peace deal, but their visit was also designed as a show of support for Kyiv against any call for too many concessions. The Ukrainian was reportedly given training on how to deal with Trump by European leaders, especially Finnish President Alexander Stubb -- who himself wore a double-breasted suit and won praise from the American president for his youthful vigor. Zelensky was notably less pugnacious than in February -- and even thanked Trump for a map that showed how much territory Russia had taken from Ukraine. NATO chief Mark Rutte meanwhile made light of the debate about Zelensky's attire.
Washington Post
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Trump says U.S. will give Ukraine ‘a lot of help'
Politics Trump says U.S. will give Ukraine 'a lot of help' August 18, 2025 | 7:49 PM GMT President Donald Trump pledged U.S. support for Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Aug. 18 in Washington, D.C.
Bloomberg
03-08-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
UN Lays Out Survival Plan as Trump Threatens to Slash Funding
Secretary General Antonio Guterres is slashing more than $700 million in spending and laying plans to overhaul the United Nations as its largest sponsor, the US, pulls back support. Guterres's plan calls for 20% cuts in expenditures and employment, which would bring its budget, now $3.7 billion, to the lowest since 2018. About 3,000 jobs would be cut.
France 24
15-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
South Africa faces legal action over birth certificate backlog
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South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Zelensky talks air defence in ‘productive' meeting with US envoy
President Volodymyr Zelensky met on Monday with US special envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv and discussed air defence and sanctions on Russia during a 'productive' conversation, the Ukrainian leader said. Advertisement Kellogg's visit – more than three years into the Kremlin's invasion – comes as Russian forces killed three civilians in eastern Ukraine and launched dozens of long-range drones at targets across the country. The envoy arrived in Kyiv just one day after US President Donald Trump announced new Patriot air defence system supplies to Ukraine, in a U-turn that has underscored concerns in Kyiv over the consistency of American support. 'We discussed the path to peace and what we can practically do together to bring it closer,' Zelensky wrote on social media. 'This includes strengthening Ukraine's air defence, joint production, and procurement of defence weapons in collaboration with Europe,' he added. Ukrainian firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a burnt house following a Russian guided aerial bomb attack in Velykomykhaylivka village in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region. Photo: AFP/Ukrainian Emergency Service The Ukrainian president also called for fresh sanctions on Russia and countries that aid its war efforts, and urged US leadership on confronting Moscow.
