Ukrainians enchanted with Slavic First Lady's influence on Trump: ‘Melania is a hero'
In a press conference on Monday, the president explained his decision to get tough on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was partially influenced by his wife, who points out to him that the war-mongering leader repeatedly gives empty promises during their calls over peace deals.
Ukrainians on the street in Kyiv were celebrating their fellow Slav on Tuesday. Melania Trump was born in Slovenia, which has stood with Ukraine throughout Russia's war.
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5 Ukrainians showered first lady Melania Trump with praise after President Trump revealed that she helped influence him to increase support for military Ukraine.
BONNIE CASH/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock
5 Yulia Shevchenko (left) told The Post she believes the first lady's Slovenian background helped her understand what the Ukrainians are going through. Sergei Medvedev (right) noted that Melania has the ability to be a good influence on her husband.
Caitlin Doornbos/NY Post
'She is against war. And she does not want the Slavs to die. And she wants to help somehow,' Kyiv resident Sergei Taruta told The Post.
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'I think she understands more because she is one of ours, coming from a Slavic country,' Yulia Shevchenko agreed.
'Despite the fact that she left many years ago — she lived it and can draw conclusions about the Russians.'
Another Kyiv resident, Sergei Medvedev, said he hoped the first lady would continue to influence her husband.
5 Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky laying flowers at a memorial for Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war in Kyiv on July 15, 2025.
Photo by HANDOUT/UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images
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5 The Post's cover on President Trump's Ukraine announcement.
'Women always have an influence on men, no matter what they say,' he said.
'She can be a good influence — but of course there's a certain limit to this influence, too.'
Ukrainians also took to social media to cheer Melania.
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5 President Trump said the first lady pointed out to him that Russian President Vladimir Putin often goes back on his promises.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
'Agent Melania Trumpenko,' read one popular meme depicting Melania in her striking inauguration day look, complete with a sharp hat and dark navy blazer and the Ukrainian national symbol superimposed over her pocket.
'Melania Trump, I wasn't familiar with your game,' wrote one X user who posted a clip of Trump's words.
Another viral meme played off of a popular image of a man playing dominoes with increasingly larger tiles, indicating cause and effect.
In it, the first and smallest domino is labeled 'Trump deciding he likes female models from Eastern Europe,' while the largest says 'full-throttle sanctions disintegrate the Russian Federation in November 2025.'
In another meme, an image of Melania made to look as if she is wearing a Ukrainian camo hat and jacket with the Ukrainian flag was accompanied by the words: 'In this house, Melania is a hero. End of story.'
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