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.

He's killing too many people," Trump said. "So we're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine."Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning. Trump did not approve the weapons pause,

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;