Zelenskyy planned to give Trump Usyk's belt, but showed photos of Ukrainian prisoners of war

During his visit to the White House, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy brought a championship belt of Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk as a gift to US President Donald Trump. However, he decided not to hand it over, but instead showed photographs of Ukrainian prisoners of war who had been tortured in Russian captivity. The head of the Ukrainian state told about this in an interview for Time magazine, writes UNN.

Details 

According to Zelenskyy, he prepared several gifts to impress US President Donald Trump and dispel what he believed was the influence of Russian propaganda on the White House. Among them was the championship belt of Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk, the world heavyweight boxing champion.

Taking his place in the Oval Office, Zelenskyy placed the belt on a side table near his right elbow, planning to reach out and hand it to Trump in front of the journalists present. Instead, as the televised briefing began, Zelenskyy reached for his other gift. It was a folder with a series of horrific photographs showing Ukrainian prisoners of war after being held in Russian captivity 

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In particular, it is reported that Trump reviewed these pictures with a stony face and seemed to take them as a personal reproach. So, according to media reports, some American officials believe that it was this moment that changed the tone of the meeting.

Despite this, Zelenskyy does not regret his decision. He explained that he was trying to go beyond purely political relations and appeal to Trump's humanity.

He has a family, loved ones, children. He has to feel what every person feels. I wanted to show my values. But then, well, the conversation went in a different direction 

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