Trump and Zelensky play nice: Top takeaways from high-stakes Oval Office redo

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky avoided a contentious repeat of his February meeting in the Oval Office on Monday, keeping to script and correcting his perceived shortcomings as he sat next to President Donald Trump.

In a bilateral meeting that lasted just under 30 minutes, Zelensky kept an impromptu visit to the White House on track with diplomatic exchanges that were civil and deferential. Zelensky gave Trump a letter, written for Melania Trump by his wife, and wore a military-style suit — a clothing choice meant to avoid a blowup over his dressed-down attire at their last visit.

Before the sit-down, Trump welcomed Zelensky personally, patting him on the back as the two entered the White House.

The high-stakes meeting, which came after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday...