Melania Trump’s Slovenia is not far from Ukraine. It’s less than 400 miles; about like driving from Birmingham to Baton Rouge for an LSU-Bama football game. That close proximity compels Slovenians to have a keen awareness of Vladimir Putin and Russia’s threat to Ukraine and the rest of southeastern Europe.

Ukrainians have begun to credit First Lady Melania Trump for her husband’s 180 on support for Russia and President Vladimir Putin in their all out war on Ukraine.

I think she understands more because she is one of ours, coming from a Slavic country,” Kyiv resident Yulia Shevchenko said.

D onald Trump has credited his wife Melania for his recent decision to resupply weapons to Ukraine, a position he had previously opposed.

As well as praising Ronald Reagan, who helped end the Cold War, she speaks to her son Barron in Slovene, and both still hold EU passports. It has long been reported that the first lady prefers to spend time away from the White House since her husband’s inauguration in January, as she is close to Barron, who is attending NYU.

President Trump suggested Monday that first lady Melania may have helped convince him to ramp up military aid to Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he was disappointed but not done with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a BBC interview published on Tuesday, hours after Trump announced new weapons for Ukraine and threatened Russia with sanctions.

President Trump now wants to give more weapons to Ukraine and is threatening increased sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't agree to end the war in 50 days. The president explained why in a phone call with our partners at BBC News.