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US politics live: Donald Trump finally loses patience with Vladimir Putin, with a little help from First Lady Melania Trump

Donald Trump has revealed the surprising role his wife Melania played in his decision to turn so sharply against Vladimir Putin.

Welcome, again, to our live coverage of US politics.

President Donald Trump has declared he is “very unhappy” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and has set a 50-day deadline for Russia to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.

If that doesn’t occur, he has suggesting ruinously high tariffs will be imposed on Russia to try to bring the conflict to an end.

Mr Trump also said the US will send more weapons to help Ukraine in its fight.

He made the announcement in On Monday, US time, alongside NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte in Washington DC.

Multiple times throughout the day, the President brought up the role his wife, Melania Trump, played as his frustration with Putin built.

“My conversations with him are always very pleasant,” Mr Trump said of his phone calls with the Russian dictator.

“They say, ‘Isn’t that good?’ Very lovely conversation. And then the missiles go off that night.

“I go home, I tell the First Lady, ‘I spoke with Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation.’ She said, ‘Oh really? Another city was just hit.’”

“We thought we had a deal numerous times,” said Mr Trump at another event later in the day.

“I get home. I’d say, ‘First Lady, I had the most wonderful talk with Vladimir. I think we’re finished.’

“And then I’d turn on the television, or she’ll say to me one time, ‘Well that’s strange, because they just bombed a nursing home.’”

It’s the annoyance at that dynamic - Putin talking about peace on the phone, then turning around and bombing Ukraine mere hours later - that seems to have finally worn out Mr Trump’s patience.

Read on for the latest updates.

Originally published as US politics live: Donald Trump finally loses patience with Vladimir Putin, with a little help from First Lady Melania Trump

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/world/us-politics-live/live-coverage/a0d6870463996cbf11521b7e1ccd6b31