Melania’s Eastern European Roots Shaping Trump’s New View On Putin?

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump on July 14 credited First Lady Melania Trump—who was born behind the Iron Curtain and still holds an EU passport—for shaping his growing skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s promises to end the war in Ukraine.

Melania, who grew up in the former Yugoslavia during the Cold War and often praises Ronald Reagan’s role in ending Soviet influence in Europe, reportedly played a key role in challenging Trump’s early optimism after phone calls with the Russian leader.

Increasingly frustrated by Putin and in search of that Nobel Peace Prize, Trump seem to have finally arrived at the conclusion that previous administrations had – the Russian leader is not to be trusted. Trump now seems ready to understand that geopolitics can’t be changed just by him and that maybe Putin had him played.

Trump recounted to reporters that his wife was often the first to question Putin’s sincerity. “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 said. “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.’ I’d say, ‘What?’”

Trump made the remarks after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, where he also confirmed that he would approve new arms sales to NATO allies—an apparent nod toward strengthening transatlantic defense ties. Earlier, Trump said he had given Putin a 50-day deadline to secure a peace agreement in Ukraine or face sweeping 100% tariffs.