The NATO Dispute
Event Overview
While the Berlin proposal had been resolved in substance, tensions escalated again in late June with one final, highly contested appearance.
The NATO Appearance
Zelenskyy's outfit during his June 24 visit to The Hague, where he met with NATO leaders including Donald Trump, Keir Starmer, and Olaf Scholz, reignited debate over the suit market's resolution criteria (Reuters).
While most coverage focused on the NATO meetings themselves, a growing number of outlets began discussing Zelenskyy's outfit. This time, headlines featured the word "suit" more prominently, though often without support in the article body.
Media Coverage and Framing
Coverage of Zelenskyy's outfit during the NATO meeting received significantly more attention than during the Berlin appearance. Many outlets included the word "suit" in their headlines. However, more credible sources such as AP News did not mention his attire at all, and Reuters only noted a jacket in the body text without emphasizing the change. At the time of writing, only two credible sources described Zelenskyy as wearing a suit: Politico explicitly stated he "donned a black suit," and PBS, in the caption of its header image, not the article body, said Zelenskyy "adjusts his suit."
Outlets that included "suit" in the headline tended to be smaller and more headline-driven or commentary-oriented, such as India Today, Firstpost, and The Daily Beast. These outlets do not follow the same editorial standards for neutrality and sourcing as Reuters or the Associated Press.
Even when the term "suit" appeared early in the article, the body text often clarified that Zelenskyy was wearing a "suit-style jacket" or "suit jacket," not a full suit. Kyiv Post, for example, described it as a suit but also emphasized that it was the same jacket worn in Berlin, reinforcing continuity rather than a change in appearance.
Additionally, among several of the most credible sources frequently cited by "Yes" supporters, very few unconditionally describe the outfit as a full suit in the article body. As shown below, language from outlets like the New York Times, Reuters, BBC, and Kyiv Post consistently refers to jacket-only descriptions. Politico and PBS were the only two credible sources that described Zelenskyy as wearing a suit. That being said, this mixed signaling falls short of a credible media consensus.
"Why Ukraine Fell Down the Agenda at the NATO Summit"
Mr. Zelensky even wore a black suit jacket to meet with him, a rare abandonment of his military-style outfit.
"Zelenskiy opts for more formal, calibrated wardrobe ahead of Trump meeting"
Zelensky switched from military-style tops to more formal, but still rugged, black suit-style jackets and shirts.
"Zelenskyy approves special tribunal plans to prosecute Russian leaders over Ukraine invasion"
Photo caption: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy adjusts his suit arrives at a NATO event on June 24, 2025. Photo by Toby Melville/ Reuters
"How Trump learned to stop worrying and love NATO"
Zelenskyy, who has made a trademark of his tactical-style clothing since the Russian invasion, even donned a black suit after being mocked by a conservative media figure in that disastrous White House meeting for an outfit that wasn’t respectful enough.
"Zelensky swaps military fatigues for black suit at Nato summit"
But today, the Ukrainian leader adopted a more formal outfit, donning a black jacket, trousers and shirt as he met Nato leaders, including Donald Trump.
"Zelensky Suits Up for NATO Summit"
Zelensky wore a black jacket, black undershirt, black slacks, and black combat boots.
Discussions Resume
As the July market approached expiration, two "Yes" proposals were submitted on June 25 and June 30, both citing the NATO appearance. Each was quickly disputed.
The renewed debate centered on whether media coverage met the requirement for consensus among credible sources. While several headlines used the word "suit," most detailed reporting stopped short of confirming a full, classic Western-style suit.
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