LONDON (AP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was keen on avoiding accusations of ingratitude during his recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. This meeting took place on August 18, 2025, at the White House, ahead of peace talks aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelenskyy, having learned from a difficult interaction during a previous meeting six months prior, made a concerted effort to express his gratitude, thanking Trump and others a total of nine times within the first minute of their brief public session.
Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation profusely at the start of the meeting: "Thank you so much, Mr. President,” he began, “First of all, thank you for the invitation and thank you very much for your efforts, personal efforts to stop killings and stop this war. Thank you." This was a striking contrast to an earlier meeting in February, during which Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy for not adequately showing appreciation. Vance's unexpected reprimand left Zelenskyy stunned as he defended his record of expressing gratitude for U.S. support since the onset of the conflict in 2022.
Taking cues from past diplomatic interactions, world leaders recognized the importance of flattery as a successful strategy for engaging with the unpredictable Trump. This approach was evident not only in Zelenskyy's interaction but also in a larger meeting later that day involving several European leaders and NATO's head. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted that Zelenskyy sought advice based on Merz's more favorable Oval Office experience in June.
With a second chance to leave a positive impression, Zelenskyy, front and center with gratitude diplomacy, reiterated his thanks multiple times. He also acknowledged Melania Trump for her personal note to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to consider the wellbeing of Ukrainian children. Additionally, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to his European counterparts who joined him in Washington, emphasizing their united stance on pushing for a ceasefire and security assurances linked to a potential peace deal with Russia.
During a subsequent meeting with European leaders, Zelenskyy maintained his thankful demeanor, expressing appreciation at least seven times, including twice specifically for a map Trump had presented him. Trump's own compliments flourished in the later meeting, where he lauded various European leaders, notably calling Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a great leader with promising prospects ahead. He also expressed an unusual fondness for French President Emmanuel Macron and complimented Chancellor Merz’s tan.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has invested effort into building rapport with Trump, thanked the president on four occasions, highlighting Trump's unique ability to bring the long-standing conflict closer to resolution. Former U.S. Army Europe Commander Ben Hodges noted the excessive deference shown to Trump was “nauseating but necessary” to secure his support for NATO initiatives. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte openly addressed Trump as “dear Donald” and later referred to him as “amazing,” further illustrating the high level of sycophancy at play during these diplomatic engagements.
This meeting, characterized by numerous displays of gratitude and flattery, demonstrates the intricate nature of international diplomacy, particularly when dealing with a figure as unpredictable as Trump. The dynamics of gratitude diplomacy played a crucial role in Zelenskyy's approach to the meeting, which held significant implications for ongoing peace efforts in Ukraine.
