Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the White House on Monday wearing a black military-style jacket over a buttoned black shirt and no tie, defying protocol officials’ request that he appear in a conventional suit and tie for his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump since February. A live television feed showed Trump greeting the Ukrainian leader about 15 minutes after the scheduled 1 p.m. start time. Before heading to the White House, Zelensky met Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, at the Hay-Adams Hotel near the presidential residence. Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform said the discussions centred on security guarantees for Kyiv ahead of broader talks later in the day that are expected to include European leaders. Zelensky has worn variations of military attire since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, a sartorial choice his advisers view as a sign of solidarity with Ukrainian troops. Some Trump aides told Axios that adopting a traditional business suit would have indicated greater flexibility in the coming negotiations, but the Ukrainian leader opted for a compromise look that preserved his wartime image while nodding to formal protocol.