Arguments for "Yes"

The arguments in favor of a "Yes" resolution generally fell into three categories: framing by Ukrainian sources, consensus in credible reporting, and practical interpretation.

Framing by Ukrainian sources

An Instagram post from the account named @ukraine explicitly referred to the outfit as a suit, stating Zelenskyy "put on a suit for a NATO summit."

BestinUA, a Ukrainian fashion and media outlet, described Zelenskyy as appearing in a "класичному костюмі," a phrase typically used in Ukrainian to mean a classic Western-style suit. While Zelenskyy had worn the same outfit earlier in Berlin without comment, its later labeling as a suit suggested a deliberate reframing.

SISShowroom, a community agency in art and fashion, posted a photo with Zelenskyy’s menswear designer, Anisimov. Anisimov explained that the outfit was not a classic suit in the traditional sense and features a military-inspired jacket.

In a reply to a comment, SISShowroom, a community agency in art and fashion, stated that the outfit can be considered a suit, though not a traditional one.

A common piece of evidence cited by the "Yes" side came from a Sky News interview, in which Zelenskyy mentioned that during his Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump on February 28, "media people were standing around us talking about some small things, like my suit." However, it's important to clarify that this remark appeared in an exclusive interview with Sky News conducted ahead of the NATO summit, and not in the context of his actual NATO attire. Additionally, the reference to the "suit" comes from a voiceover translation rather than a direct transcript of Zelenskyy's words. Given the context and phrasing, it is likely that Zelenskyy used the Ukrainian word костюм, which broadly refers to a coordinated outfit and does not necessarily imply a Western-style business suit.

Consensus in credible reporting

Politico explicitly states that Zelenskyy "donned a black suit."

PBS mentions how Zelenskyy adjusts his suit, making it one of the few credible sources to reference a suit without qualification.

50Pence argued that the number of media sources using a term does not automatically establish consensus. In contrast, zyzyzynn pointed out that major outlets including Reuters, Euronews, India Today, Kyiv Post, and Firstpost referred to the outfit as a suit, suggesting a dominant narrative in mainstream coverage.

Calvin Hamilton expanded on the idea of a consensus among credible reporting, emphasizing that dozens of mainstream outlets referred to the outfit as a suit. He also highlighted the responsibility of UMA voters to rely on objective reporting rather than speculation or interpretation.

Defipolice compiled examples across international media, Ukrainian press, and social channels that consistently described the look as a suit. While not all sources were equally credible, the volume of mainstream reporting was used to argue that public consensus leaned toward classifying it as a suit.

GreyRaevan claimed that media consensus fell into one of three categories. However, he overlooked that outlets describing the outfit as a partial or suit-like look are just as conflicting as those that outright deny it is a suit. If some call it a suit and others call it a suit jacket or military-style, then there is no clear consensus.

Practical interpretation

830Lincoln made the common-sense argument that the outfit looked like a suit based on its cut, color, and how it was worn in a formal setting. However, many people online disagreed about whether it was common sense to call it a suit, with some seeing it as formal and others viewing it as military-inspired.

Roastslav argued that Polymarket’s lack of clarification might imply they don't consider the outfit a suit. However, this is incorrect because Polymarket does not interpret outcomes themselves and leaves resolution to UMA voters.

BrunoAd invoked the ChatGPT argument, suggesting it supported the suit interpretation. This is unreliable, as ChatGPT simply reflects aggregated information and is not a source of authority. UMA resolutions do not rely on AI tools or summaries.

Coming Up

These arguments would soon be challenged directly, as the "No" case was supported early by long-time UMA participants and experienced community members.