When the world watches Trump, the First Lady becomes Ukraine’s quiet power broker

As the world fixates on US President Donald Trump’s theatrics—his rallies, tariffs, and coarse diplomacy—another figure in the White House is subtly redrawing the lines of global influence: the First Lady of the United States.

It is easy to overlook the ceremonial role of a First Lady in an administration dominated by showmanship and spectacle.

But when power is centralized and diplomacy becomes highly personalized, proximity to the president matters more than ever.

In this context, the First Lady has become a strategic operator—soft-spoken, carefully choreographed, but politically consequential.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the case of Ukraine.

According to a recent post by Tymofiy Mylovanov, President Zelenskyy has found an unexpected ally in the First Lady; a devout Catholic.

In the high-stakes drama of US-Ukrainian relations—where military aid, diplomatic recognition, and public messaging are all closely tied to American domestic politics—the quiet backing of someone within the First Family is not merely symbolic. It is essential.

While Trump rallies crowds with bombast and brinkmanship, the First Lady has emerged as a bridge between political actors and humanitarian sentiment.

Her support for Ukraine—subtle, yet sustained—reflects a deliberate attempt to shape public and elite opinion without antagonizing the President's unpredictable base.

Through soft power diplomacy—attending high-profile events, engaging with Ukrainian causes, and making symbolic appearances—the First Lady has elevated Ukraine’s moral narrative even when the geopolitical calculus shifts uncomfortably.

This is not a new phenomenon. History remembers Eleanor Roosevelt’s tireless advocacy for human rights, Jackie Kennedy’s cultural diplomacy, and Michelle Obama’s efforts on education and girls’ empowerment.

But in the hyper-partisan climate of 2025, where global conflicts like Ukraine's war with Russia are viewed through the prism of U.S. elections and domestic loyalties, the First Lady’s intervention is strikingly strategic.

It is precisely because she operates outside formal policy channels that her influence resonates.

She is not a cabinet official, nor a senator. But in a world where access to Trump is currency, her words, appearances, and endorsements carry weight. Unlike diplomats bound by protocol or legislators constrained by party lines, the First Lady can weave between institutions, affect public emotions, and build legitimacy without triggering backlash.

Zelenskyy, a former entertainer-turned-president, understands the power of image and narrative better than most. His team’s ability to identify and cultivate this alliance is a masterstroke in strategic communication.

When the fog of war demands clarity and consistency, having a visible yet unofficial ally in Washington helps sustain morale—not just for Ukrainians, but for those watching from Berlin, Brussels, and beyond.

The timing, too, is no coincidence. With the world watching Trump’s every move—his tariffs on Vietnam, Indonesia and Brazil, his sudden reconciliation with NATO, his latest commitment to increase the military aid and equipment to enhance Ukraine’s survival, depends on staying visible.

And the First Lady ensures that Ukraine is not forgotten. She speaks to Barron Trump, a 6 feet 7 Freshman at New York University, who has built up a crypto currency of several hundred million dollars according to The Spectator, not in English. But Slovene.

Melania returns to Slovenia twice a year, a place where she grew up in the now defunct Yugoslavia.

An erstwhile country where the late President Tito was adept at keeping Soviet Union always at bay.

Melania is not necessarily in favour of a Russia that constantly wants to fight Ukraine to the pulp. As Trump averred recently, "When I turn to Melania about the peace I am trying to broker with Ukraine and Russia, she replied: While you were doing that, another Ukrainian city has been bombed."

Every utterance, every mention, every carefully curated gesture keeps Trump focused on the issues at stake.

Importantly, this does not imply that the First Lady acts unilaterally or without coordination. In the shadowy corridors of power, nothing is left to chance. Her engagements are likely aligned with the inner circle’s broader goals—projecting empathy without compromising Trump's "America First" posture.

In this sense, her actions reflect the duality of American soft power: simultaneously principled and performative. But then again now that Trump has given Russia 50 days to come to terms with the importance of making peace, a date starting from July 15, Russia may have to confront more and more hard power from Ukraine albeit as the proxy of US and NATO.

What makes this moment unique is that it exposes a quiet resilience in diplomacy. While male leaders brandish missiles, tariffs, and threats, it is often the understated presence of figures like the First Lady that keep fragile relationships from unravelling. She is, in essence, the White House’s back-channel—a symbol of continuity in a political landscape built on ruptures.

The takeaway is clear. When conventional diplomacy falters, and when global leaders like Trump upend norms with every tweet or phone call, influence finds new channels.

The First Lady is not a diplomat, but in the world of high politics, she has become a kind of moral counterweight. For Zelenskyy, and for Ukraine, that may be the difference between isolation and sustained relevance.

As the East Asia Summit nears, and as ASEAN leaders watch how Washington balances its alliances, it is worth remembering that diplomacy today is no longer conducted solely by ambassadors and foreign ministers.

It is shaped by those who can cross the thin lines between personal influence and public responsibility. And sometimes, the most strategic actor in the room is not the president, but the person beside him.

** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.