Ukraine’s president coos over a puppy, starting a new volley in his war of visuals against Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine was photographed cooing over a 3-month-old American pit bull terrier puppy in his office in Kyiv on Tuesday. The puppy, named Freya, was given to Zelenskyy by former U.S. boxer Terence Crawford, a longtime supporter of Ukraine and a devotee of the American pit bull terrier breed. The heartwarming scene symbolized resilience and protection during the ongoing four-year war with Russia and served as a contrast to the grim realities of the conflict.

The puppy's name, Freya, was inspired by Ukraine's proposed missile defense system, Freyja, and the puppy's grandfather had survived the Russian siege of Bucha in 2022. The image of Zelenskyy embracing the puppy resonated with Ukrainians and showcased the nation's symbolic use of animals to embody strength and endurance in the face of adversity.