Alexander Rodnyansky, who previously served as an adviser to Ukraine's president, has dismissed the ongoing controversy surrounding Volodymyr Zelensky's choice of clothing for Monday's White House meeting with Donald Trump.
The wardrobe controversy traces back to a tense encounter in March when President Zelensky visited the Oval Office wearing his characteristic military-style clothing rather than traditional formal attire.
During that meeting, President Trump reportedly greeted the Ukrainian president with the sarcastic remark, "He is all dressed up today," establishing an uncomfortable atmosphere from the outset.
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Alexander Rodnyansky hit back at the reports
|GB NEWS
The situation escalated when a journalist directly confronted President Zelensky about his clothing choices: "Why don't you wear a suit? You're at the highest level in this country's office, and you refuse to wear a suit."
President Zelensky responded defiantly, stating he would don what he called the "costume" only after the conflict concluded.
Shedding light on the topic, a former adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky, told GB News: "We’ve heard this over the past few months, and really ever since Trump became president it’s been a perennial topic of discussion.
"For me, and for anyone looking at this carefully, it’s more about style and form than substance.
"I’m not sure what else to say here, except that it’s unfortunate we fixate on these issues when there are larger things to discuss in the present context."
According to insider accounts, the Ukrainian leader is expected to arrive at the White House sporting the same dark jacket he wore to a NATO gathering in the Netherlands during June.
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Ukrainian fashion designer Elvira Gasanova, who has previously worked with Zelensky, anticipates the president will opt for more formal military-inspired clothing following the earlier controversy.
"I think he will choose a black military suit or a military-style shirt with trousers — perhaps a jacket," Ms Gasanova told Fox News, suggesting he "will not appear in a polo" this time.
The designer, who founded the Ukrainian fashion labels GASANOVA and DAMIRLI, believes President Zelensky will adopt "a more serious look — though less symbolic" after facing criticism at the White House for his casual clothing choices.
"After the recent 'no suit' drama, he will likely approach this question differently," she explained to the American news outlet.
Mr Zelensky faced a grilling for his attire at the last summit
|REUTERS
Ms Rodnyansky outlined Ukraine's objectives for the summit, describing an immediate cessation of hostilities as the optimal outcome from the discussions.
"The best-case scenario for Ukraine right now and as a result of these talks and negotiations would, of course, be a freezing of the front lines," he told GB News.
The former adviser emphasised that an immediate ceasefire accepted by all parties, followed by talks resulting in concrete security assurances for Ukraine, would represent a historic achievement.
He also mentioned the possibility of compensation or reconstruction support, acknowledging such provisions remain improbable but would constitute significant progress.
Ms Rodnyansky explained that achieving peace would enable Ukraine to pursue European Union membership and implement economic changes, priorities that remain impossible under current circumstances.