'Thank you, Mr President': Zelenskyy unleashes thank-o-meter diplomacy on second visit to Oval Office - here's why

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made gratitude the main theme of his latest visit to the White House, repeatedly thanking US President Donald Trump and other allies during a brief meeting and news conference on Monday, as peace talks took center stage.In the first minute alone, Zelenskyy thanked Trump nine times, a marked shift from his last Oval Office encounter six months ago, which had turned into a diplomatic embarrassment, AP reported.Back then, Vice President JD Vance scolded him for not showing enough appreciation for US support in Ukraine’s war with Russia."Thanks so much, Mr President," he said. "First of all, thank you for the invitation and thank you very much for your efforts, personal efforts to stop killings and stop this war. Thank you," he added.The Ukrainian leader also extended his thanks to first lady Melania Trump, noting that she had written to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to consider the suffering of Ukrainian children and push for peace.European allies were also acknowledged. Zelenskyy thanked European leaders at least seven times for reinforcing Ukraine’s case in Washington, presenting a united front alongside the US to push for a ceasefire and future security guarantees. He even thanked Trump for presenting him with a map, mentioning it twice."Thank you for the map, by the way," he said.In total, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude at least six times directly to Trump and several more times to others in the room.Trump also mirrored the tone, using the phrase “thank you” about a dozen times during the meeting and praising European partners for their support in peace efforts.The shift in tone comes from the fallout of the February meeting, when Zelenskyy faced a sharp rebuke from Vice President Vance. At that time, Vance questioned why Zelenskyy had not expressed thanks even once during the talks, saying, "You should be thanking the President for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”"Have you said thank you once? In this entire meeting? No, in this entire meeting, have you said thank you?" he added.Trump himself had added: "You have to be thankful. You don’t have the cards. You gotta be more thankful."Although Zelenskyy defended himself, insisting he had always been grateful for American military and financial support, the exchange left a negative impression.Since then, Zelenskyy has adopted what some call “gratitude diplomacy,” ensuring his appreciation is clearly and repeatedly communicated. With peace talks back on the table and international support crucial, the Ukrainian president seems determined to avoid another public misstep.