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Zelenskyy Honors US President With Symbolic Gift From a Ukrainian Soldier Who Lost Leg in Battle
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump at the White House, where the two leaders exchanged symbolic gifts, the press service of the Ukrainian head of state reported on August 19.
Zelenskyy presented Trump with a golf putter that had been passed to him by Junior Sergeant Kostiantyn Kartavtsev of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Kartavtsev lost his leg in the first months of Russia’s full-scale invasion while saving fellow soldiers.
According to Zelenskyy, the putter is not merely a personal item but a testament to resilience, as golf became part of Kartavtsev’s rehabilitation process, helping him restore both physical balance and emotional stability.
The Ukrainian leader also showed a video message from Kartavtsev, in which the soldier directly appealed to the US president to help Ukraine end the war with a just and lasting peace. “This is a very personal story that demonstrates the strength of our defenders,” Zelenskyy said while handing over the gift.
President Trump accepted the golf putter and recorded a video message in response, thanking Kartavtsev for his courage and the symbolic gesture. As a reciprocal sign of goodwill, Trump presented Zelenskyy with symbolic keys to the White House, underlining what he described as the “friendship and trust” between the two nations.
The exchange of gifts took place during a broader round of discussions at the White House, where Trump and Zelenskyy were joined by European leaders.
Earlier it was reported that on August 18 Trump hosted Zelenskyy together with several European leaders at the White House. The agenda included discussions on a potential ceasefire framework, international security guarantees for Ukraine, and further coordination with NATO allies.
