A smile, a handshake, even a momentary arm around the shoulder kicked off a far more cordial meeting between US President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.
More cordial that is, than the encounter in the Oval Office just six months ago, which famously descended into a shouting match, with Mr Trump and his deputy JD Vance rounding on the wartime leader for failing to show enough gratitude or respect.
A Ukrainian official in the room sat with her head in her hands.
At that meeting, Mr Zelensky's trademark military attire was attacked by a reporter who asked why he hadn’t turned up to meet the American president in a suit.
Today, Mr Zelensky appeared to have learnt that lesson and wore a much more formal dark jacket, trousers and shirt.
That was noted by the same reporter who today, by contrast, complimented Mr Zelensky on his outfit and said that he "looked good".
"I said the same thing," President Trump chimed in.
Reporter tells Zelensky he looks 'fabulous' in suit
Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump were sitting in the same chairs in front of the lavish, gold garland-adorned fireplace – a Trump White House addition – as on that fateful February afternoon.
There were moments of tension.
At one point, Mr Trump picking up the train of a reporter’s question pressed Mr Zelensky on the suspension of democratic elections in Ukraine.
"So, you say during the war you can’t have elections," Mr Trump said.
Three and a half years from now, Mr Trump went on, "if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections?"
Mr Zelensky laughed, and the moment passed.
The press conference proceeded then in Mr Trump’s usual freewheeling style, careening between diverse subjects from mail-in ballots to crime on the streets of Washington DC.
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Mr Zelensky’s interjections were few and far between, but he was careful to thank Mr Trump, repeatedly.
While Ukrainian officials this time probably skipped out of the encounter feeling relieved, it stood in stark contrast to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state-like visit to meet the US President in Alaska on Friday. The red carpet and military aircraft flypast spoke for themselves.
When those two men addressed the waiting reporters, it was Mr Putin who spoke first and at length. Mr Trump listened and waited for his turn.
And unlike the multiple questions fielded today at the Oval office, Mr Putin left America without answering a single one.
Today, European leaders waited outside the Oval Office for their chance to meet the US President.
When the time came, Mr Trump proceeded to host it in his now-familiar style of White House cabinet meetings, where each cabinet member is asked to say a few words – usually complimentary ones about the president.
Today, European leaders, no doubt familiar with the format, played their part – each in turn thanking President Trump for his efforts.
But there was a steely undertone from the Europeans.
Both President Emmanuel Macron of France and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made it clear that a ceasefire had to come before any peace deal with Russia.
That was a direct contradiction of Mr Trump’s comments posted on social media on Saturday just a day after his tête-à-tête with President Putin, saying that ceasefires often don’t "hold-up" and his preference was for a peace deal.
Among the Europeans around the table was the Finnish president Alexander Stubb – someone who has been described as a "Trump whisperer". According to US press reports, Mr Stubb and Mr Trump bonded over a shared love of golf and are said to be in regular contact over text message.
Today, Mr Stubb praised Mr Trump for making more progress on ending the war in the past two weeks, "than we have in the past 3.5 years".
He said the meeting was very symbolic in terms of "Team Europe and United States helping Ukraine".
Then the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Finland, UK, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO chief Mark Rutte, Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky all stood for a photograph.
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There weren’t many smiles in the line-up.
After that, they disappeared behind closed doors to thrash out the detail of a peace plan which, to date, has remained elusive.
One big question is whether the US will pressure Ukraine to give up all its territory in Donbas – something Mr Zelensky has said is impossible, because the Ukrainian constitution forbids it.
Another is: what security guarantees will the United States give Ukraine – and will those be accepted by the Kremlin?
If Friday’s meeting in Alaska was high stakes, this summit is truly historic.
But we may have to wait to find out what really happened when Europe went to Washington.
