Putin's Response to Melania Trump: A Turning Point in the Ukraine Conflict

Melania Trump pleaded with Vladimir Putin to spare the children of Ukraine. The response was more deadly attacks that claimed the lives of children. "Putin's response to Melania Trump should be the final straw," writes an expert in the Washington Post.

The American First Lady, Melania Trump, wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin during last month's summit in Alaska. She urged Putin to release the over 20,000 Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia since the war began.

"Mr. Putin, you alone can restore their melodic laughter. By protecting these children's innocence, you do more than serve Russia – you serve humanity," Melania wrote.

She urged Putin to "realize this vision with a stroke of the pen today."

Last week, "Putin's response" to Melania's plea came, according to Marc Thiessen, an expert on foreign and domestic policy at the Washington Post. Putin conducted a massive drone and missile attack on central Kyiv. At least 23 people were killed, including four children.

"This attack was an insult to our First Lady. It was also an insult to President Donald Trump, who personally delivered his wife's letter to Putin at their summit in Alaska," writes Thiessen.

Responded with a "Slap"

He claimed that Putin has "deliberately targeted children since the war began."

"But Putin's attack last week was different and seemed intended to send a signal to Trump and the European leaders gathered at the White House that he doubts their resolve," writes Thiessen.

He argued that Trump "has yet to strike back seriously at Putin," but that may change now that the Russian president has responded to Melania Trump's "heartfelt letter with a slap."

"This should be the final straw. Putin has shown with his brutality that he will not voluntarily stop his assault on Ukraine – he must be forced to do so. So let the coercion begin," writes Thiessen.