After an official meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, a viral image comparing two photos of Zelenskyy, one in a suit and the other not, has been shared. The post questions why Zelenskyy didn’t wear a uniform during the meeting, implying it was a sign of disrespect to the host country. However, our investigation reveals that the claim in the post is misleading.
Social Media Claim
An image showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wearing a suit and shaking hands with a high-ranking leader at the World Economic Forum was circulated on social media platforms. It was compared to another image depicting him in different attire during a recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Facebook post author questioned why the Ukrainian leader wore a suit in the meeting with other world leaders and whether he showed disrespect to President Trump in a recent meeting.
After the two images were compared in a Facebook post, it quickly gained traction, sparking numerous reactions and comments from other users.
The following screenshot was captured from a Facebook post published on March 2, 2025.
The same claim, along with the same photos, has been posted on another Facebook page, attracting more attention from social media users.
Similarly, the above viral claim was also found and posted on Facebook recently, with a claim questioning that “And yet Zelenskyy couldn’t wear a suit when meeting with the President of the United States at the Oval Office?”.
The same photo, along with the identical claim, has also been observed and shared by another X user. This repetition highlights the viral nature of the image and its ability to spread across different platforms.
For more information and specifics regarding this post, you can find the details below.
Given the claim’s extensive dissemination and the considerable attention it has received from the internet community, we believed it was necessary to perform a fact-check on the above subject.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo conducted a thorough review of the images using Google Reverse Image Search uncovering the true nature of the photo.
A photo of Zelenskyy wearing a suit has been found, dating back to 2020 when he shook hands with the Founder and Executive Chairman at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
The following screenshot was published on Flickr five years before his recent meeting with Trump.
Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was often seen in formal attire, including suits, during his international engagements. One notable example was his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. At that time, Zelenskyy was still a newly elected leader, and his attire reflected the formalities expected during diplomatic meetings.
This period marked a time when Ukraine was navigating complex relationships with Western leaders, and Zelenskyy’s appearance in a suit symbolized the traditional diplomatic approach. However, since the invasion, his attire has shifted dramatically, opting for military-style clothing as a symbol of solidarity with Ukraine’s armed forces.
President of Ukraine | Archived Link
Meanwhile, a photo of Zelenskyy wearing military attire during his meeting with Trump last week was published by CNN. This sparked questions on social media about why he wore a formal suit with other leaders in the past, but chose military attire with President Trump, suggesting possible disrespect.
However, those photos of him in a suit were taken years ago, not recently. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Zelenskyy has consistently worn military-style clothing to show solidarity with Ukraine’s armed forces.
CNN News Report | Archived Link
During the meeting with Trump, Fact Crescendo found that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he would wear a suit after the war ended. When questioned about his attire during the meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy responded, “I will wear a suit after this war is finished. Maybe something like yours”.
The following was the moment he responded to the question of why he did not wear a formal suit.
However, we found that since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently worn military-style attire, such as olive-green T-shirts, sweatshirts, and tactical trousers, to symbolize solidarity with his nation’s armed forces.
This includes his meeting with former U.S. President Joe Biden, where he also wore military attire instead of a formal suit.
The following snapshot, seen on People news website, also shows Zelenskyy walking alongside Biden in military attire.
People News Report Link | Archived Link
Not just with former President Biden, a photo of Zelenskyy wearing a formal suit with other world leaders has also been seen and publicly published. This choice of attire does not imply any lack of respect.
Zelenskyy’s decision to wear military-style clothing is a conscious symbol of solidarity with Ukraine’s armed forces during the ongoing war, reflecting his commitment to his country’s defense rather than a disregard for protocol or respect towards other leaders.
The Politico News Report | Archived Link
An image of President Zelenskyy meeting with King Charles III while wearing military attire was also recently seen on The Guardian.
Zelenskyy made a recent visit to the United Kingdom following his trip to the U.S., where he met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other European leaders at a summit in London.
The Guardian News Report | Archived Link
We have also observed that since 2022, during his appearances at the World Economic Forum and other major international events, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently opted for military attire instead of formal suits. This choice aligns with his ongoing effort to symbolize solidarity with Ukraine’s armed forces as the country continues to face conflict with Russia.
The following image shows President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2022. (Getty Images)
The following image shows President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2024. (Getty Images)
His attire has become a defining statement of resilience and unity, reinforcing his leadership image amid the war. The following image also shows President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s appearance at the World Economic Forum in 2025.
World Economic Forum | Archived Link
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Conclusion
Fact Crescendo has found that the claim circulating on social media is misleading. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently worn military-style attire as a symbol of solidarity with his nation’s armed forces.
Title:Zelenskyy in Formal Suit at Global Forum Before Russian Invasion
Fact Check By: Kakada SimResult: Misleading
