The Ukrainian president’s outfit during his visit to the White House Monday reflects a change in tactics since his disastrous meeting with President Trump earlier this year.

The White House appeared to cover up Donald Trump’s cankles in an official photo from his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Monday. The 79-year-old president’s swollen ankles were hard to miss as his slacks crept up his shin while sitting down with Zelensky,

Trump: “President Zelensky can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight."

The White House, ahead of Monday's meeting, asked Zelensky to wear a traditional suit and tie, according to a European official and another person involved in planning. The request came through the office that handles White House protocol, though a spokeswoman declined to comment publicly.

President Donald Trump is ratcheting up pressure on Ukraine to agree to terms to end the war with Russia, echoing some of Moscow’s talking points two days after meeting President Vladimir Putin.

The Ukrainian leader seemed mostly upbeat about his latest White House appearance, describing his meeting with Trump as "warm". His optimism, however, appeared deliberate as he sought to avoid a repeat of his last Oval Office visit and convince his American hosts to embrace the European position on ending the war.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders including Sir Keir Starmer will meet Donald Trump in Washington on Monday to map out a peace deal amid fears the US president could try to pressure Kyiv into accepting a settlement favourable to Russia.

President Donald Trump made some false claims to the press while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Monday – including a long-debunked claim that the US has given Ukraine more than $300 billion in wartime aid.