WP: Saying ‘thank you’ to Trump is high on Zelensky, other leaders’ agendas

Trump and Zelensky at the map of Ukraine in the White House Oval Office.
Photo: The White House

Zelensky joined European and NATO leaders to thank Trump — a lot — six months after the White House accused him of being ungrateful, ‘The Washington Post’ notes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made sure to thank President Donald Trump this time around — a lot.

Zelensky thanked Trump for hosting him and other world leaders at the White House on Monday to try to end Russia’s war with Ukraine. He thanked him for introducing him to the other guests and the media. He thanked him for a “very good conversation.” And he thanked him for giving him a map of his own country.

All in all, the Ukrainian president thanked Trump about 11 times in the 4½ minutes he addressed him publicly at multiple meetings Monday, joining the other European and NATO leaders in a chorus of gratitude singing Trump’s praises.

Zelensky made clear that he had adapted in the six months since his last visit to the White House. That meeting ended in disaster when Trump and Vice President JD Vance scolded him, accusing him of not being appropriately respectful and grateful for American help during the three-year war.

The conversation escalated in a back-and-forth between Zelensky and Trump until Vance jumped back in the fray to pick up the thread about the Ukrainian’s level of gratitude for years of American military and diplomatic support.

“Have you said thank you once, in this entire meeting?” Vance asked.

Trump ordered Zelensky out of the White House and issued what appeared to be a threat to cut off U.S. aid for Ukraine entirely.

The visit ended with Zelensky’s White House expulsion. He quickly said that he had regrets about the meeting and that he believed his relationship with Trump could be salvaged.

Recently Trump took to social media to put the responsibility of ending the war on Zelensky, suggesting he promise to never join NATO and to give up Crimea.

Three days later, Zelensky and his European allies sought to bring Trump back on Ukraine’s side. This time, Zelensky stuck to the game plan: thank Trump and then thank Trump some more.

He wasn’t alone in doing so — the European and NATO leaders repeatedly thanked and complimented Trump during their White House meeting.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte thanked “dear Donald” for his leadership in spearheading the effort to get Russia and Ukraine to strike a peace deal. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen thanked him for mentioning Russia’s systematic abduction of Ukrainian children. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni each expressed appreciation for Trump bringing them together.

Zelensky finished his address to Trump by doing the same and made sure to drive home his point through repetition.

“Thank you, Mr. President, for hosting us,” he said. “Thank you.”

The map of Ukraine in the White House Oval Office.
Photo: The White House