The prediction market on the crypto-currency platform Polymarket, which attracted over $12 million (c. £9.5 million) in bets, is now the subject of fierce debate among traders.

The market was set to resolve based on whether Mr Zelenskyy was photographed or videotaped in a suit between 22 May and 30 June 2025. Last week, however, he attended a NATO summit in The Hague and a formal dinner hosted by Dutch royalty wearing a military-style, yet formal, black blazer over a buttoned-up shirt. He was also seen in a similar utility-style collared jacket during a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

This departure from his usual military fatigues caused a spike in the odds on Polymarket, which jumped from just 3% to 19% after the summit. Yet, the question of whether his attire constituted a suit remains unresolved, leaving the outcome of the high-value market in limbo. The final review of the outcome is scheduled to resolve later today.

Mr Zelenskyy’s clothing has long been a subject of international attention. He typically wears khaki or black military-style clothing, often featuring the Ukrainian trident, to signify his position as a wartime leader in solidarity with his troops.

Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of Mr Zelenskyy’s party and head of Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee, described the choice as a “political message” to remind the world that his country is at war. “While the war continues, the President should somehow in his attire to emphasise that he is commander-in-chief,” Mr Merezhko stated, adding that any criticism likely comes from those who “don’t like Ukraine”, Newsweek reports.

The debate over his wardrobe is not new. During a disastrous visit to the White House in February, Mr Zelenskyy was reportedly advised by then-President Donald Trump’s team to wear a suit. When asked by a reporter at the time why he had opted for his usual all-black outfit, the Ukrainian leader replied that he will wear a suit “after this war finishes.”