He broke the dress code in the Oval Office, what does President Zelensky's choice indicate?

The interrogation was not over. “A You have a Glenn costume, adding, “Many Americans have a problem with your lack of respect for the dignity of this office.”

President Zelensky simply replied: “I will wear the suit when this war is over”.

On his numerous international trips in an effort to provide military and financial support for his country, the Ukrainian president has decided to give up his typical state clothing. Instead of a suit and shoes, Zelensky chose simple, often black or green olive shirts with a triple Ukrainian symbol, cargo pants, and boots.

This choice of clothing has been constant since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022. During his first visit to the United States after the beginning of the Russian invasion, Zelensky addressed Congress with a green olive sweater that has already become one of his commercial brands. He wore similar clothing during numerous state visits, television interviews and soldiers' meetings on the front lines.

Zelensky's decisions about what to wear are intentional, writes Euronews . Since the outbreak of war, his style has undergone a major change.

This is the reality we live in. Of course, our president will reflect this. If you walk around Kiev, you see people look like this. This shapes the narrative. A very important story that we are at war and that this is our reality,” says Agata Gorski, co-founder of the Shadows project, an NGO and creative consultancy aimed at preserving and popularizing Ukrainian culture.

But Zelensky is not the first world leader to wear military clothing in support of his country's war effort. Winston Churchill visited the White House in a suit with a piece originally created for use in air strike shelters. Unlike Churchill, however, Zelensky has made his clothes part of his image, not changing into official dress for diplomatic events, and not letting anyone forget the message he is trying to convey to his country, according to Euronews.

The military uniform is linked to power and is worn not only by leaders in war but also by leaders who wanted to design a sense of accomplishment, power and authority. Dressed by military generals, experienced veterans and statesmen, a uniform may add a sense of legitimacy and experience to anyone who adorns it.

But Zelensky's typical outfit is not exactly a uniform. He does not exactly wear the same clothes as Ukrainian soldiers who fight and adorn them with medals for his achievements in battle. What arouses his style is a soldier's feeling off duty, every man in his country.

Our president is a very specific representation of who we are, what message we would like to give the rest of the world and his clothing are part of this message and are part of a personal brand that not only represents him, but represents us as a country”, Gorski told Euronews Culture.

Gorsky suggests that the criticism he faced over his style of dress was not limited to the Oval Office. Instead, she believes the question seemed “as a mockery of soldiers who struggle for their country's survival and the fact that their leader chooses it to act in solidarity with them”.