Melania behind Trump-Putin fiery breakup? US President reveals how First Lady changed his stance on Russia
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Why are Ukrainians celebrating Melania Trump?
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US President Donald Trump on Monday suggested that the First Lady Melania Trump convinced him that Russian President Vladimir Putin has continually backed out of his promises over a possible peace deal with Ukraine. Melania Trump is again back in the news after Trump suggested she played a role in shaping his perception of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.Trump revealed that his wife played a significant role in pushing him to take a harder stance against Vladimir Putin over the Russia-Ukraine war. During a meeting with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump said Melania had questioned his optimistic view after his phone calls with Putin, who often promised peace talks.Trump revealed Melania Trump had influenced his opinions about Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that his wife provided a harshly critical response to his previous perceptions of the Kremlin leader and his war in Ukraine. He explained that his wife pointed out Putin's false promises following Trump's phone calls with the Russian leader amid calls for a deal to end the conflict.'My conversations with him [Putin] are always very pleasant. I say, isn't that a very lovely conversation? And then the missiles go off that night,' Trump said.'I go home, I tell the first lady, 'You know, I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation.' She said, 'Oh, really? Another city was just hit,' Trump was quoted as saying to reporters.He added that her reaction contributed to his decision to ramp up military support for Ukraine and put pressure on Moscow, reports the New York Post.'We thought we had a deal numerous times,' Trump was quoted as saying to the Daily Beast."There's times I'd get home. I'd say, 'First lady, I had the most wonderful talk with Vladimir. I think we're finished.' And then I'll turn on the television, or she'll say to me one time, 'Wow, that's strange because they just bombed a nursing home,'" Trump recalled in another conversation. "I'd say, 'What?'"Moscow has repeatedly attacked Ukraine with drones and missiles following calls between Putin and Trump. Trump announced that he would commit 'billions of dollars' in weapons to Ukraine and warned that his administration would impose harsh tariffs on Russia if there was no ceasefire agreement within 50 days. 'We're going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days,' Trump said, adding, 'I use trade for a lot of things. But it's great for settling wars.'Ukrainians are celebrating Melania Trump on social media in a series of memes, after Donald Trump suggested the first lady played a part in his apparent change of heart over Russia. Melania Trump has not spoken anything on Russia-Ukraine war and her native country Slovenia has distanced itself from Russia since the 2022 invasion. Just after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she dubbed the images from the war-torn nation 'heartbreaking and horrific'. She also called for donations to the Red Cross, saying it was 'heartbreaking and horrific to see innocent people suffering'.Following Trump's Oval Office remarks on Monday, a social media user shared a satirical image of 'Agent Melania Trumpenko,' depicting the First Lady in a blazer adorned with Ukraine's trident insignia. Her face is partially obscured by the brim of a wide hat, suggesting she's secretly working on Kyiv's behalf from inside the White House. The image riffs on a popular meme that features three cartoonish creatures in military gear — typically used to label Western politicians or celebrities seen as pro-Ukraine. In the meme, the trio offers Melania a cap decorated with a Ukrainian flag, symbolically welcoming her to their ranks.Another meme shows the first lady standing behind her husband in the Oval Office, while he signs a presidential decree.The caption reads: 'Sisters Melania of the Bene Gesserit' – a reference to the powerful, secret and politically influential sisterhood from Frank Herbert's science fiction book Dune.The comments coincide with Trump's announcement that the US will be providing Ukraine with more Patriot air defense batteries and interceptor missiles, with European partners paying for the delivery. The US President also affirmed that Germany and other NATO members would pay for the systems, which would be delivered 'within days.'With six operational Patriot systems now in place, Ukraine's defenses should be greatly strengthened by the recently pledged units in the face of ongoing Russian drone and missile strikes on major cities.
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