Zelenskyy’s puppy video starts a new volley in his war of visuals against Russia

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Wait. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's war chief, holding a puppy?

Yes, and it's no accident. In a collision of dog lovers, sports and ongoing war with Russia, the Ukrainian president was seen on video Tuesday as never before – cuddling and cooing over a floppy, 3-month-old American pit bull terrier, handed to him by U.S. Former boxer Terence Crawford.

Notably, the cute and fluffy scene in Zelenskyy's office in Kyiv was the latest volley in a deadly serious battle of visuals that runs in parallel to Ukraine's fight against Russia's brutal four-year invasion.

Crawford, a longtime supporter of Ukraine and a devotee of the American pit bull terrier, came forward and handed a reddish-yellow puppy to Zelenskyy.

As well as the symbolism of resilience and protection, and for a few minutes in Kyiv, cultures, death and geopolitics yielded to the power of sweetness and puppy love.

Taken together, the developments around zelenskyys puppy video starts a new volley in his war of visuals point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.