The key facts
- Etiquette expert Ekaterina Bogacheva believed that the Ukrainian delegation only partially observed the 'business best' dress code at the talks in Abu Dhabi
- The black jacket of delegation head Rustem Umerov drew particular criticism
- The Russia–US–Ukraine talks are devoted to security guarantees, de-escalation, and steps toward a peace agreement
Assessment of the delegation's appearance
The Ukrainian delegation at the talks with Russia and the US in Abu Dhabi attempted to come close to business dress code, but, in the opinion of etiquette and business protocol expert Ekaterina Bogacheva, the impression was spoiled by the choice of clothing, its fit, and the participants' stubble. She gave her assessment in a conversation with Life.ru; her remarks are also cited by Gazeta.Ru. This is the evaluative judgment of an invited expert, not the official position of any party to the talks.
The expert's remarks
According to Bogacheva, the benchmark for important meetings is the 'business best' dress code: a white shirt, a classic suit, and a tie. The Ukrainian delegation, in her view, tried to come close to it, but 'it didn't quite work out': the suits were black rather than dark gray or dark blue, and she compared the black ties to the uniform of security guards and drivers. The expert also noted that overly dark shades of blue can look black in photos and video, while a burgundy tie retains its color better on camera. The fit of the suits also drew criticism: Bogacheva suggests there may be a deliberate message behind it — 'we've moved toward the dress code, but we observe it in this particular way, because we have other things to attend to right now.'
Umerov's jacket and the stubble
Bogacheva was especially harsh about the black jacket worn by the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov: 'As if he'd been pulled off a fishing trip, torn away from important matters. It's a safari style.' In her opinion, such an item of clothing does not meet the standard of business negotiations and is better suited for leisure. 'For the first time, the Ukrainian delegation tried to observe the dress code, but one of them still decided to stand out,' she added. The expert called the participants' stubble unkempt, noting that most politicians around the world choose to be clean-shaven.
Context of the talks
The assessment of the appearance came against the backdrop of the meeting itself: earlier, the first video from the trilateral talks between Russia, the US, and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi was released, showing delegations with 'stern faces' seated at one table. The November 10–11 meeting is devoted to security guarantees, de-escalation, and further steps toward a possible peace agreement. The content of the talks themselves is not disclosed in the publications about the delegations' clothing; apart from the etiquette expert's comment, no independent assessments of the participants' appearance are provided in the sources.
