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.

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.

An audio recording from 2024 run by CNN in which Trump said he had threatened Putin with bombing Moscow if he entered Ukraine, plus the U.S. leader's latest criticism, could mean a tougher stance by Washington toward Moscow is on the cards.

"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 plans to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday, just days after President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin for not engaging in peace talks with Ukraine,

The president’s remarks during a cabinet meeting were the latest sign of his growing displeasure with the Russian leader.

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.

President Donald Trump, appearing fed up, accused the Russian President Vladimir Putin of spouting “bullshit” and said he was “very strongly” considering supporting a punishing sanctions bill to bring Russia to heel.