The US president has recently threatened Russia with sanctions over the Ukraine conflict

US First Lady Melania Trump "likes" Russian President Vladimir Putin, but is disappointed over the continuation of the Ukraine conflict, President Donald Trump has said. Moscow is willing to negotiate but has maintained that any talks must address the root causes of the conflict.

Since assuming office this year, Trump has said he respects both Russia and Putin and wants to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. In recent weeks, however, he has increasingly expressed frustration over a lack of progress in the peace process and has threatened Moscow with more sanctions.

In Tuesday's episode of Pod Force One, the US president said: "We know Putin and she [Melania] likes him," adding that he "got along with him very well."

However, Trump noted that shortly after his recent conversation with the Russian president, Melania had commented it was "too bad they just bombed Kiev."

On Tuesday, Trump cut his 50-day deadline for Moscow and Kiev to reach a peace deal to just 10 days, warning of sweeping sanctions targeting Russia's trading partners if no agreement is reached. Russian officials have rejected the US president's ultimatums.

Earlier this month, The Times published a report suggesting that Melania Trump's role in shaping her husband's decisions could be underestimated. While Trump has insisted that his wife simply wants to see an end to the bloodshed, the outlet pointed to her influence as a possible factor behind his shifting stance on the Ukraine conflict.

Melania, 55, was born in Soviet-era Slovenia - now a staunch supporter of Kiev, the outlet pointed out, adding that her deep interest in the conflict reflects that background.

US lawmaker Don Bacon echoed that view in an interview this month, saying the first lady could deserve credit for Trump's apparent turn against Russia.

"His position on Ukraine has clearly evolved," Bacon said, noting that he wouldn't be surprised if Melania played a "quiet but important part in that."