Hegseth rewrites America’s Pacific playbook
He warned allies in Europe that those unwilling to share the burden should not expect to be treated as partners.
The attire of leaders has always attracted attention during the Ukraine-Russia conflict resolution meetings, especially when the mediation party is the US. This time it was US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s choice of outfit that sparked controversy on the social media platform X, after he wore a tie resembling the Russian flag, featuring red, blue, and white stripes during a recent meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.
His pocket square, meanwhile, displayed the American flag’s stars and stripes. The unusual combination drew attention for its potentially sensitive symbolism in a diplomatic context. Social media users interpreted the tie and pocket square as Washington showing support for Russia, and many criticized it as an insult to Ukraine.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended the Trump–Zelensky meeting wearing a tie featuring the three colors of the Russian flag.
While white, blue, and red are also national colors of the United States, Hegseth’s tie displayed them in the exact order of the… pic.x.com/dbvcqIArDb
— RussiaNews (@mog_russEN) October 17, 2025
During the meeting, Ukraine President Zelensky sat in front of Trump wearing his black jacket and directly requested “Tomahawk missiles,” underscoring the urgency of Ukraine’s needs in the war. Hegseth was seen laughing in the meeting prompting social media users to decode it as an insult to the Ukrainian President.
Earlier in February this year, during a tense Oval Office meeting regarding the Ukraine-Russia conflict resolution, Zelensky did not wear a formal suit. When a journalist asked him why, it drew criticism from the US President.
As soon as Zelensky stepped out of his car at the White House, Trump ‘sarcastically’ remarked, “You’re all dressed up today.”
At the Oval Office meeting, Zelensky wore a military-style black sweatshirt adorned with the Ukrainian trident to show solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers. Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, he has consistently ditched suits, button-down shirts, and ties, even during important meetings with world leaders and also during an address to the US Congress.
Zelensky’s choice of attire has drawn criticism, which culminated in the infamous Oval Office confrontation with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. A reporter asked Zelensky why he wasn’t wearing a suit, suggesting it was disrespectful. According to BBC reporters present, this immediately changed the mood in the room. Soon after, issues of respect and gratitude prompted a heated argument, with the US President and Vice President openly reprimanding their European ally in front of global TV audiences.
On demand of Tomahawk missiles
Zelensky’s latest appeal for long-range Tomahawk missiles was flatly rejected by Trump during their meeting in Washington, according to media reports.
Zelensky had arrived in the US capital seeking the powerful cruise missiles, which he believes could cripple Russia’s war machinery by striking deep into its oil and energy infrastructure.
However, during opening remarks at a White House working lunch, Trump dismissed the request with a curt “No,” emphasizing that the United States must prioritize its own defense needs. He added that he hoped the war could be resolved “without thinking about Tomahawks.”
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