Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

The EU’s Ukraine trip dress code: Wear a suit, not green like Zelenskyy

The EU’s Ukraine trip dress code: Wear a suit, not green like Zelenskyy

As a trainload of EU officials prepare to head for Ukraine, an internal planning note made clear: The clothes can make the message.
It’s a truism politicians are loath to admit: Their job is often as much about photo ops and symbolism as it is about actual policy.

That might help explain why even before the EU finalized its agenda and guest list for an upcoming two-day summit in Ukraine — set to feature a plethora of top EU leaders confabbing with Ukrainian officials — it circulated an internal memo with a clear message: There’s a dress code.

In: “Usual business attire” (or come as you are in Brussels).

Out: “Green, khaki or too bright colours” (less common in the European Quarter).

The reason for the note, sent last week and seen by POLITICO, was an apparent attempt to reserve the military look for the hosts and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has made an army green T-shirt his ubiquitous war-time uniform. EU planners are likely keenly aware that’s a style appropriate for those fighting off a brutal Russian invasion — but perhaps less so for an EU commissioner.

The European Commission did not comment.

EU officials, of course, have found ways to show sartorial solidarity with Ukraine in the past. During her annual state of the EU speech, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sported a bright yellow and blue outfit, mirroring the Ukrainian flag. The EU’s female commissioners joined in on the dress code from the audience, making a united fashion statement.

The note — sent by the Commission’s Secretariat General, which is keeping a tight grip on logistics and protocol services for the trip — did not give any explanation for the bright-color ban at the occasion, but EU diplomats said it is in line with expectations around the Continent to not overdo the imagery and stay consistent with the political message. The EU, after all, may have to disappoint Ukraine on thorny issues like its desire to swiftly join the bloc.

Regardless, there will be little chance for outfit changes during the upcoming EU-Ukraine summit, which spans Thursday and Friday in Kyiv — there’s simply no time or space.

“We are requested to travel light (backpack or similar), avoiding a suitcase if possible,” the note said. “Since the exact travel time is impossible to foresee, it is advisable to be prepared to go straight from the train to the meetings upon arrival, in case needed.”

As a piece of practical advice ahead of a winter trip, the travelers were told that “comfortable shoes are advisable and also a warm jacket/coat.”

Travel comfort, however, is predictably not what attendees should expect.

“Boxes with cold food will be distributed on the train, but please be prepared for basic supplies,” the note warns.

And the train itself will be a crowded affair, a far cry from the cozy compartment French President Emmanuel Macron received on a sleeper train to Ukraine last year: “There will be individual sleeping couches [sic] with one shared toilet in each wagon, no bathrooms.”

To avoid the excursion adopting the odor of a class trip, hotel rooms have been booked in Kyiv “for day use on Thursday if time allows to go there before the meetings start.”

With so much care given to appearances, the travelers were reminded that any photo must credibly support — not replace — the political message EU officials are there to convey.

“Please note that during the meetings with the Members of the Ukraine Government, Members of College will be expected to intervene when necessary,” the note reads.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Intel Reports Revenue Beats but Sees 81% Rise in Losses
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2: A New Open-Source AI Model
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
×