Flattery and pressure — coupled with President Trump’s growing dissatisfaction with President Vladimir V. Putin — have helped build momentum for new economic punishments.

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.

Latest news and live updates as Marco Rubio meet with Russian foreign minister amid tensions over Ukraine and Trump releases tariff letters to trading partners.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Malaysia Thursday at a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The two discussed the Russia-Ukraine war.

"With Putin, I said, 'If you go into Ukraine, I'm going to bomb the s--t out of Moscow,'" Trump can be heard saying on the recording. "He said 'No way,' and I said, 'Way.' And then he goes,

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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.

President Donald Trump continued to express his displeasure with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 8 and said he was open to sanctioning him.