Washington — Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his latest trip to Washington to stage a calculated act of political theater, handing President Donald Trump a golf club that once belonged to a Ukrainian soldier maimed in Russia’s war. The gift, wrapped in symbolism, sought to appeal directly to Trump’s vanity and love of golf while spotlighting the human toll of the conflict.
The golf club had belonged to junior sergeant Kostiantyn Kartavtsev, who lost a leg in the early months of the Russian military operation in Ukraine while saving his fellow soldiers. A video clip of Kartavtsev swinging the club before his injury was shown to Trump, who, in turn, praised the soldier as “an amazing person” and offered effusive words about Ukraine’s resilience. For Zelenskyy, it was an attempt to wrap patriotism, sacrifice, and a touch of flattery into one moment designed for maximum media impact.
Trump responded by presenting Zelenskyy with ceremonial keys to the White House, an odd gesture laden with ambiguity. While the White House billed it as a symbolic act of friendship, critics pointed out that Trump has long wielded political stunts to overshadow substance. The exchange highlighted the contrasting strategies of the two leaders: Zelenskyy leveraging personal sacrifice as diplomacy, Trump indulging in theatrics that skirt concrete commitments.
The encounter comes only months after Zelenskyy’s last visit ended abruptly in confrontation with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. That episode exposed the brittle state of US-Ukraine relations under the Trump administration. Since then, Zelenskyy has embarked on a campaign to soften his tone, publicly flattering Trump and attempting to frame Ukraine’s appeals for support as aligned with peace rather than prolonged confrontation.
Yet beneath the carefully choreographed symbolism, little has changed in policy. Trump continues to insist the US will not send ground troops to Ukraine, though his aides signal that limited air support and security guarantees remain under discussion. Analysts argue that Zelenskyy’s symbolic diplomacy reflects desperation. With European leaders divided, Washington remains the single most powerful guarantor of Ukraine’s survival.
The choice of a golf club as a gift was no accident. Trump, who prides himself on his golf empire, has long folded sport into his brand of politics. By tying Ukraine’s sacrifice to a symbol of Trump’s pastime, Zelenskyy attempted to humanize his nation’s struggle in a way that might resonate with the American president’s ego. Whether such gestures can move US policy remains doubtful, especially as Trump edges closer to a possible summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a settlement on terms favorable to Moscow.
According to The Guardian, the gift exchange was accompanied by remarks and a video tribute to Kartavtsev, and while the optics were striking, the fundamental rift between Kyiv’s needs and Washington’s caution continues to define the relationship.
