The Atlantic: “Volodymyr Zelensky clearly learned some lessons from his calamitous Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump back in February. That much was apparent today just from the Ukrainian leader’s outfit. Back then, Zelensky took heat from Trump allies who felt that a suit—and not his trademark wartime ensemble—would have been more appropriate attire for an audience with the American president. Today, Zelensky showed up in a black blazer and a black collared shirt, earning praise from the same MAGA-aligned reporter who’d needled him about his sartorial choices six months ago—and from Trump himself.”

“Zelensky, who met with Trump in the Oval Office before he was flanked by European leaders for a broader discussion, adjusted more than his fashion. He also heeded the urgent advice of his continental counterparts: Show Trump gratitude, and don’t take the bait.”

“The fates of nations have rarely, if ever, been decided by sartorial choices,” the South China Morning Post reports.

“But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was certainly hoping that a spot of fashion diplomacy on Monday could get US counterpart Donald Trump to help his country reach a peace deal with Russia.”

“Despite the life-and-death matters unfolding in Ukraine, much of the speculation among the White House press corps was about whether Zelensky would wear a suit.”

“There must be a push for peace to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, but French President Emmanuel Macron is skeptical that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to resolve the conflict,” NBC News reports.

Said Macron: “When I look at the situation and the facts, I don’t see President Putin very willing to get peace now. But perhaps I’m too pessimistic.”

He also said “the optimism of your president is to be taken seriously. So if he considers he can get a deal done, this is great news, and we have to do whatever we can to have a great deal.”

Playbook: “For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, yesterday began with a diplomatic whirlwind. It ended with a great sigh of relief.”

“Hours of meetings in Washington — Zelensky with President Donald Trump; Trump with a coterie of Europe’s most powerful leaders; all of the above together in the Oval Office — culminated in a ‘breakthrough,’ in the words of NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte: Trump expressed a willingness to participate in security guarantees for Ukraine.”

“On the international stage, that alone amounts to a new dawn not only for the relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine, but also between Zelensky and Trump — and America’s with some of its closest transatlantic allies.”

Wall Street Journal: “U.S. and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization troops are flocking to the European Arctic, where international tensions are simmering. Militaries haven’t clashed in the high north in generations, and defense planners are puzzling through what war there would look like.”

“It is ugly.”

“For President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, a lot is riding on how much he can trust President Trump,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Trump offered only vague assurances on Monday that the United States would play a role in guaranteeing Ukraine’s safety if Mr. Zelensky were to cut a deal with President Vladimir Putin of Russia to stop the fighting.”

Said Trump: “We’re going to make sure it works. And I think if we can get to peace, it’s going to work. I have no doubt about it.”

Bloomberg: “US and European officials started work on bolstering Ukraine’s military, part of a package of security guarantees that will open a path to a landmark meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy.”