Did 'Agent Melania' change Donald Trump's mind on Ukraine? – DW – 07/16/2025
Ukraine has, seemingly, a surprise advocate in the White House: first lady Melania Trump.
A flurry of laudatory posts shared across Ukrainian social media this week came after US President Donald Trump revealed that his wife had taken to pointing out the contradictions in his negotiations with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, toward a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
"I speak to him a lot about getting this thing done," Trump said on Monday.
"And I always hang up and say: 'Well, that was a nice phone call,'" Trump said. "And then missiles are launched into Kyiv or some other city. After that happens three or four times, you say: 'The talk doesn't mean anything.'"
On Monday, Trump set a 50-day deadline for Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or risk substantial economic sanctions. The deadline, like others set by the president, appears flexible. On Tuesday he said that, though he didn't think 50 days was a long time, "it could be sooner than that."
"I go home, I tell the first lady: 'I spoke with Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation,'" Trump said. "She said: 'Oh really? Another city was just hit.'"
On platforms such as X and Telegram, Ukrainian social media users shared posts and memes welcoming Melania Trump's apparent role.
"So all this time Melania was for us?" the prominent blogger Ihor Lachenkov posted.
"Melania for President of the United States 🙈" a Telegram account with 1.5 million followers wrote.
Many have dubbed her "Agent Melania Trumpenko" and modified photos of the first lady to attach Ukrainian iconography to her clothing.
Others have used memes to poke fun at the suggestion that the first lady was the crucial voice that changed the US position on Ukraine.
One such post shared by the national TV news program TSN shows a cartoon animal, a cinema detective and a picture of Melania Trump in a wide-brimmed hat at the 2025 inauguration with the text "Secret Agents: In cartoons, In movies, in real life."
Another shows Godzilla marked as former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and King Kong marked as prime ministerial candidate Yulia Svyrydenko brawling, saying "A Woman Will Save Ukraine," only for the Doge dog to attack both, saying: "It will be Melania Trump."
Melania Trump is Slovenian and grew up in the former Yugoslavia. Slovenia has provided humanitarian, economic and military support to Ukraine.
She has voiced her support for Ukraine previously, notably in a 2022 social media post on the platform X (formerly Twitter) calling on people to support the International Committee of the Red Cross's humanitarian efforts after Russia began its full-scale invasion.
Many Ukrainian users have noted that, because of her upbringing in Yugoslavia, which had a fraught relationship with Russia, she is the best-placed member of Trump's circle when it comes to understanding the threat posed by Vladimir Putin.
US first ladies have often exercised influence within the White House. Melania Trump's predecessors have involved themselves with social programs and tried to help achieve policy outcomes for their husbands.
In an interview with Ukrainian television Kanal 24, former state security service officer Ivan Stupak said he hoped that Melania Trump's sympathies for his country were having an effect on US foreign policy.
"We've seen in the histories of different countries that first ladies ... it's not a 100% rule, but, in many cases, they don't just exist in the background, as a formality," Stupak said.
"I want to believe that she does have some influence," Stupak said, "that she can say something, and Trump will listen to her."
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videoWhile Melania Trump may be providing counsel to her husband on military matters, he continues to take his own advice when it comes to business.
Trump has typically run a transactional presidency, ensuring that he — and by extension the United States — can claim a victory or benefit in any negotiations.
Though his predecessor Joe Biden willingly provided military aid to Ukraine, Trump has been quick to turn off the tap in a tumultuous first six months in office. While he had a catastrophic falling out with Ukraine's president Volodymir Zelenskyy earlier in the year, the lack of response from Putin has seen Trump seemingly warm to the Ukrainian cause in recent weeks.
But only on the condition that supplies are paid for.
Most recently, Trump confirmed that the United States will supply Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine, with European partners to bear the cost of supply.To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Business Times
an hour ago
- Int'l Business Times
Germany Contradicts Trump Claim That Patriot Missiles Are Already En Route to Ukraine
Germany pushed back this week against President Donald Trump's claim that the U.S.-made Patriot missiles are already en route to Ukraine, stating it has no knowledge of any such shipments underway. Trump made the assertion on July 16, telling reporters at Joint Base Andrews that Patriot missile systems were "already being shipped" from Germany to Ukraine and would be replaced through a NATO-coordinated arrangement, the Kyiv Independent reported. The president added that the weapons would be fully reimbursed by participating nations. But Germany's Defense Ministry quickly contradicted that timeline. Speaking to Swiss public broadcaster SRF, a spokesperson said, "I cannot confirm that anything is currently on the way," and noted that a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) is scheduled for July 21 to work through unresolved details. The confusion comes in light of mounting pressure from Ukraine, which has urgently requested additional air defense systems to counter intensifying Russian attacks. On July 14, German officials confirmed that discussions were ongoing with European allies about sending at least three Patriot systems to Kyiv. Trump's remarks followed his unveiling of a new NATO-EU initiative under which member states would purchase U.S. weapons, deliver them to Ukraine and later replenish their stocks through agreements with Washington. The announcement also came on the heels of his threat to hit Russia with "severe" tariffs if it does not agree to a peace deal within 50 days. Originally published on Latin Times Germany Ukraine Donald trump
Int'l Business Times
an hour ago
- Int'l Business Times
EU Readies Retaliatory List Targeting US Services
The EU executive is preparing a list of proposed restrictions on US services companies -- including tech giants -- should Brussels fail to strike a trade deal with Washington, European diplomats said on Thursday. US President Donald Trump blindsided the European Union earlier this month by threatening to slap 30 percent tariffs on the bloc's goods, despite months of talks to get an agreement. If they don't clinch a deal by August 1, Brussels has warned it will have no choice but to retaliate against Trump's steep levies because of their economic impact, and has drawn up two lists of US goods to target. The European Commission, steering trade policy for the 27-country bloc, is also working on a list of American services -- including financial services -- it could hit with restrictions, for example on public procurement, EU diplomats said. It could also mean excluding certain suppliers, one diplomat said, adding that the commission had not yet put forward any list to EU member states. Any action on services would be in addition to two sets of retaliatory tariffs on goods: one put forward this week that targets 72 billion euros ($83 billion) of US products, and another worth 21 billion euros, drawn up in response to steel and aluminium tariffs. One EU diplomat said the bloc could retaliate step-by-step, hitting the United States with first the smaller, then the larger counter tariffs on goods -- before potentially escalating to services. The official also stressed the EU had yet to even approve the measures by vote and that they could still change, but another diplomat said Brussels would have no choice but to respond "forcefully". Most EU member states want to keep options on the table but have backed the commission's attempts to try once again to get an agreement before firing off retaliatory measures. The EU's top trade negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, jetted to Washington on Wednesday for talks with his US counterparts but the commission did not provide details on meetings. There are questions over Europe's appetite for a damaging fight with Trump if he slaps on the 30-percent levies as promised. But France has been pushing for Brussels to take a harder line and consider deploying its most powerful trade tool, known as the anti-coercion instrument, if negotiations with the United States end in disappointment. Even if Brussels were to activate this so-called trade "bazooka", it could take months before any measures were taken, according to the rules. First, the commission would have four months to investigate the third country it accuses of detrimental trade policies -- then member states would have eight to 10 weeks to back any proposal for action. Only then would the commission have a green light to prepare measures, to take effect within six months.
Int'l Business Times
an hour ago
- Int'l Business Times
Trump's Trillion Dollar Spending Boost For Pentagon to Create Disastrous Amount of Carbon Emissions, Study Shows
A study has revealed that President Donald Trump's plan to add $1 trillion to the Pentagon's 2026 spending budget would have a severe impact on annual carbon emissions from the United States. The study, conducted by US-based research think tank the Climate and Community Institute (CCI), indicates the direct relationship between increased military spending by the Trump administration and its worsening impact on the climate. Additional funding provided to the Pentagon's annual budget, enumerated in the Trump administration's "one big, beautiful" tax and spending bill, would add 26 megatons (Mt) of planet-heating gases, which is equivalent to carbon emissions that 68 gas power plants in Croatia could generate in a year, according to the study. The Pentagon is receiving a 17% budget increase from what it spent the preceding year. This increase is also set to enlarge the Pentagon's total emissions of greenhouse gases to a 178 Mt of CO2e, which could also be calculated to an estimated $47 billion worth of global damages. "The U.S. military is the world's largest institutional emitter of greenhouse gases. Its vast global operations—from jet fuel consumption and overseas deployments to domestic base maintenance—produce immense carbon pollution, as does the manufacturing of all the weapons, ships, and planes that it operates," the study reads. "The human cost of this funding increase will be immense, not just in terms of for what that money might have been put used for, but in as far as direct harms," it continues. The GOP-backed federal budget for 2026 increases funding for border security and military spending while cutting spending on social safety nets and other provisions, such as science, education, Medicaid, food stamps, emergency management, the National Weather Service and humanitarian aid. "Every extra dollar grows the Pentagon's carbon bootprint – and shrinks the chances for a livable future. With this additional funding from the big beautiful bill, the US's trillion-dollar war machine will be responsible for more emissions than 138 individual countries," Patrick Bigger, lead author and CCI research director, told The Guardian. Originally published on Latin Times
