Zelensky gifts Trump with Usyk's championship belt

Trump thanks Zelensky for Usyk's belt. Photo: Getty Images

On February 28, 2025, during a meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump, the President of Ukraine presented his American counterpart with the championship belt of Oleksandr Usyk, a parishioner of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The boxer's belt, inscribed with "WBC Usyk", was placed on the table during negotiations between the U.S. and Ukrainian leaders.

It is worth noting that Zelensky had promised to give Trump Usyk’s belt during a phone conversation on February 13. In turn, Oleksandr Usyk had gifted his belt to Zelensky on August 24, 2024, explaining that the Ukrainian president “only gives away, while no one gives him anything, they only take.”

“I decided to do it this way. He’s our fighter, so let the belt be with the president,” Usyk told TikTok creator Syanya at the time.

It should be recalled that heavyweight boxing world champion Oleksandr Usyk previously stated that if an attempt were made to seize the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, he would stand in defense of the monastery and its residents. Following these statements, nationalists began threatening the boxer with violence.

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