Zelenskyy gifts veteran golf club to Trump

Ukraine's president presents a golf club from a wounded soldier to the US president during a Washington meeting.

Zelenskyy gifts Ukrainian war veteran golf club to Trump

In Washington this week Zelenskyy presented Donald Trump with a golf club that belonged to Kostiantyn Kartavtsev, a Ukrainian soldier who lost a leg during the invasion while helping teammates. Kyiv says Trump accepted the gift and answered with symbolic keys to the White House. The moment follows a tense episode in February and is framed as a bid to mend ties between the two leaders.

Video published by United by Golf shows Trump holding the club and thanking Kartavtsev. Zelenskyy also shared a video of the soldier’s sacrifice and delivered a letter from Zelenska to Melania Trump. The gesture fits a broader pattern of diplomacy that uses personal storytelling and symbolism to accompany policy as Ukraine seeks steady support in Washington.

Gentle gestures often carry more weight than long speeches. This moment reframes the Ukraine conflict in human terms and invites Trump to play the part of a forgiving ally who can shape public opinion.

Yet such moments invite scrutiny. Critics may call it political theater that uses a veteran's sacrifice for optics. For Trump the episode blends celebrity appeal with foreign policy and could influence how voters view Ukraine aid in upcoming debates.

Highlights

Gifts on the world stage carry weight beyond the moment