Zelensky survived. The Ukrainian president’s Oval Office rematch passed without diplomatic incident. The trap door under his seat was not activated. He was not served poisoned tea.
This time there was no muscling in on him by vice-president Vance. An elaborately grateful Mr Zelensky - he must have said ‘thank you’ more than 20 times - was even complimented on his black jacket by the Trumpian suck-up in the press corps who previously attacked him. ‘You look fabulous,’ drawled the reporter. Mr Zelensky joked that the newsman himself was wearing the same dodgy suit as last time. That elicited a laugh from Donald Trump.
Same setting: the two principals sat by a chimney-piece that has been given serious bling treatment since Joe Biden’s day. A study in gilt. Below them, on two sofas, sat three sidekicks from each side. A knot of reporters stood, shouting questions.
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