Washington, D.C.: The high-stakes White House meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month turned into an unexpected spectacle, marked by tension and confrontation. What began as a diplomatic engagement quickly spiraled into chaos, with Trump and his close ally, JD Vance, rebuking Zelenskyy over Ukraine’s position in the ongoing war with Russia.
While many initially speculated that Zelenskyy’s reluctance to sign a U.S. mineral deal was the catalyst for the fallout, a recent Time Magazine report has revealed a different trigger: a well-intended but ultimately miscalculated gift.
The Gift That Sparked the Tension
As is customary for visiting heads of state, Zelenskyy had brought gifts for his American counterpart. The most significant among them was a championship belt belonging to Ukrainian boxing icon Oleksandr Usyk, a symbolic gesture meant to underscore Ukraine’s resilience and fighting spirit. The belt rested on a side table beside Zelenskyy as he prepared to present it to Trump during their Oval Office meeting, in front of assembled journalists.
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However, before handing over the belt, Zelenskyy first offered another gift—one far more personal and emotional. He presented Trump with a folder containing graphic photographs of Ukrainian prisoners of war, depicting the harrowing conditions they had endured in Russian captivity.
A Sudden Shift in Mood
According to the Time Magazine report, it was at this precise moment that the tone of the meeting changed drastically. The disturbing images unsettled Trump, who was reportedly unprepared for such a grim presentation. Some U.S. officials believe that had Zelenskyy led with the championship belt, it could have lightened the mood. Instead, the brutal imagery had the opposite effect, leading to immediate tension.
Zelenskyy Stands By His Decision
Speaking about the incident in his interview with Time, Zelenskyy made it clear that he had no regrets about his choice to show the images.
“He has family, loved ones, children. He has to feel the things that every person feels. What I wanted to show were my values. But then, well, the conversation went in another direction”, Zelenskyy explained.
What Happened to the Championship Belt?
In the aftermath of the heated exchange, Zelenskyy left the White House without presenting the championship belt to Trump. However, according to Ukrainian media outlet UNN, he did not take it back to Ukraine either. Reports indicate that after the Ukrainian delegation departed, a White House staff member found the belt and moved it to Trump’s private dining room, where it remains alongside other diplomatic mementos—serving as an unintentional reminder of the tense encounter.
