White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The rumor referenced the last time Zelenskyy visited the White House, in February 2025, when he faced criticism from conservatives and some reporters for wearing a full-sleeve black polo shirt emblazoned with Ukraine's coat of arms instead of a suit. The rumor appeared to originate from a post on X that was repeated on tabloid site Daily Express.