In a gesture that blended symbolism, sportsmanship, and the ongoing search for peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a unique gift during a high-profile meeting in Washington on August 18, 2025. The gift—a blade-style golf putter engraved with the words "Let’s putt peace together!"—came not from a dignitary or a corporate sponsor, but from Junior Sergeant Kostyantyn Kartavtsev, a Ukrainian soldier who lost his leg fighting Russian forces and found solace and rehabilitation on the golf course.
The moment, reported by Suspilne, The New York Post, and other outlets, was more than a ceremonial exchange. It was a deeply personal message from a frontline veteran to two world leaders, urging them to pursue peace with the same focus and determination that a golfer brings to the green. Kartavtsev, who now golfs on an artificial leg thanks to the Ukrainian Golf Federation’s United By Golf program, sent the club to Trump via President Zelensky, knowing the American president’s well-known passion for the sport.
"I am one of those soldiers you have spoken about—they’re courageous, they are good soldiers," Kartavtsev said in a video message shown to Trump by Zelensky during the Oval Office meeting, as reported by The New York Post. "I lost a leg rescuing my fellow men, and am recovering here with golf." Kartavtsev’s journey from battlefield to fairway has been transformative. "Golf took me out into the fresh air, helped me breathe freely and switch from war to peace; it gave me the path to healing," he explained in his message. "Previously, I had only seen it on TV, but it became more than just part of rehabilitation."
The United By Golf program, which focuses on helping wounded veterans regain their physical and emotional balance, described the gift as coming "from a man who knows the true price of peace." The organization added, "Like all those on the frontlines today, he continues to defend our freedom." Kartavtsev himself emphasized the symbolic nature of his gesture: "Today, I give you my [putter,] not as an athlete, but as a warrior who dreams of peace through strength," he said, echoing a phrase often used by Trump and originally popularized by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. "Please help Ukraine live again without war."
Trump, visibly touched, responded with a video message of his own. "I know a lot about golf, and your swing is great," the president said, according to The New York Post. "It looks beautiful, and you’re going to be a very good golfer very soon, but I also want to thank you for this putter. It’s beautiful and it’s made with real love, and it’s given to me with real love from you, and I appreciate that." Trump continued, "Every time I sink a putt, I’ll be thinking of you." He also took a moment to praise Ukraine: "Your country is a great country that we are trying to help. And your president is working hard to make this happen."
The meeting in Washington was not just about golf or personal gestures—it was a significant diplomatic event. Alongside Trump and Zelensky were key European leaders: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The group convened in the Oval Office to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, security guarantees, and the prospects for peace.
Zelensky described the bilateral talks as "successful" and made clear that sensitive issues, such as the exchange of territories, could only be addressed within a trilateral framework involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia. According to Suspilne, he emphasized, "Sensitive issues regarding the exchange of territories can be discussed only within the framework of a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia."
Trump, for his part, spoke of "important security guarantees for Ukraine that partners would provide in coordination with the United States." He later announced plans for the preparation of a trilateral meeting involving the leaders of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine—a move that could mark a new chapter in efforts to resolve the conflict.
The symbolism of the putter was not lost on anyone present. It served as a reminder of the human cost of war, the resilience of those who fight, and the power of small gestures to bridge vast political divides. The United By Golf community expressed its appreciation for Trump’s response, stating, "The veteran community of the United By Golf club thanks Donald Trump for his leadership on the path to peace for Ukraine and his kind words to our brother-in-arms."
For Kartavtsev, golf became more than a pastime. It was a lifeline. "Kartavtsev’s golf game has been key to his rehabilitation as he adjusts to life with a prosthetic leg, helping him regain his balance—both physically and emotionally," he told Trump in his message, as reported by The New York Post. The program has not only helped him recover but also provided a sense of community and purpose, echoing the experiences of many veterans around the world who use sports as a means of healing.
Trump, an avid golfer himself, seemed to understand the significance. He encouraged Kartavtsev to "keep playing golf and doing many other things," and assured him that "every time I sink a putt, I’ll be thinking of you." The president’s affinity for golf is well known—he owns courses and resorts globally, and the PGA Tour recently announced a return to his Doral resort in Florida for the first time since 2016, as noted by Nexstar Media.
While the world’s attention remains fixed on the broader geopolitical implications of the Ukraine conflict, moments like these offer a glimpse of humanity amid the headlines. The exchange of a simple golf club—engraved with a message of hope—became a powerful symbol of the ongoing struggle for peace, the sacrifices made by those on the frontlines, and the potential for dialogue, even in the most challenging of circumstances.
As the leaders departed the Oval Office, the putter remained—a tangible reminder that, sometimes, the path to peace begins with a single, sincere gesture and the courage to keep swinging, no matter how tough the course ahead.
