Is there a direct link between what US President Donald Trump says and what Russian President Vladimir Putin does? Certainly, the harsh words and bitter violence of recent days in Ukraine suggest the answer is maybe.

President Trump is unloading on Russian President Putin after promising more military aid to Ukraine. Also, Russia unleashed a new drone and missile strike on Kyiv. NBC News' Monica Alba reports the latest.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks about countering China as it expands its global influence. But President Trump’s tariff threats have created friction with U.S. partners.

President Trump appears to have updated his feelings about Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling reporters at a cabinet meeting Tuesday: PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: That was a war that that was a war that should have never happened and a lot of people are dying and it should end and I don't know -- we get we get we get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin for you want to know the truth.

After days of expressing displeasure with his latest phone call with Putin, Trump went even further at a Cabinet meeting.

A week ago today, Trump had an hourlong phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. And after that, everything changed. The end of the affair: The U.S. president — who in January came into office claiming he could strike a peace deal with Putin on Day One;