Overview

• President Trump announced on July 16 that he will dispatch new defensive arms to Kyiv through European allies alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
• He attributed his reversal from closer ties with Moscow to a late-night conversation in which Melania Trump highlighted fresh Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
• Ukrainian social media users have celebrated the First Lady as “Agent Melania Trumpenko,” sharing viral memes portraying her as a champion for Ukraine.
• Born in Slovenia, Melania Trump has previously urged humanitarian aid for Ukrainians by calling on followers to donate to the Red Cross after Russia’s 2022 invasion.
• U.S. media outlets have intensified scrutiny over the First Lady’s unusual role in shaping high-level foreign policy decisions.