'Boxing Mania' Trump Gifted Champion Belt... Zelensky Could Not Even Have Lunch Together

BBC: "Even the Gift Could Not Mend the Situation"

Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, reportedly brought the 'champion belt' of a Ukrainian boxing champion to his summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

On the 28th (local time), during the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held in Washington D.C., USA, the champion belt of 'Ukrainian boxing hero' Oleksandr Usyk was placed just behind President Zelensky's right side. Instagram capture

On the 1st (local time), CNN and others reported that President Zelensky brought the champion belt of Oleksandr Usyk, known as the 'Ukrainian boxing hero,' to the summit held at the White House in Washington D.C. on the 28th of last month with President Trump. Oleksandr Usyk is the current unified WBC, WBA, and WBO heavyweight champion. It is presumed that President Zelensky brought Usyk's champion belt targeting President Trump's fondness for boxing.

President Trump is known as a 'boxing enthusiast' who hosted Mike Tyson's boxing matches at his hotels in the 1980s and 1990s, and in 2021, he made his debut as a commentator in the fight between UFC veteran Tito Belfort and then WBA, WBC, and IBC heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.

Nevertheless, the atmosphere of the summit between President Zelensky and President Trump was tense. During the summit, which was broadcast live worldwide, President Trump told President Zelensky that he was "rude." When President Zelensky demanded not only a ceasefire negotiation but also firm security guarantees, President Trump fired back with remarks such as "You are gambling with World War III" and "You have no cards."

During the summit, President Zelensky only placed the belt on the table behind his right side. Regarding this, CNN said, "While the two men continued their conversation, the flashy golden belt sparkled under the lights and said nothing." The British BBC commented, "Even this gift could not smooth over the situation." Boxing fans flooded social media with comments like "Please let that be a replica," and "They must have returned it to Usyk after the meeting."

Meanwhile, the two leaders were scheduled to hold a joint press conference after a luncheon meeting that day, but all schedules were effectively canceled as a heated exchange continued during their opening remarks. As a result, President Zelensky had to leave the White House without having lunch.