Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

By making harsh, uncompromising demands in peace talks with Ukraine while continuing to pummel it with waves of missiles and drones, Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending a clear message: He will only accept a settlement on his terms and will keep fighting until they’re met.

But in recent weeks, the relationship has begun to show signs of strain.

The White House faces the question of whether its appeasement of Russia has failed to achieve the ceasefire it promised and instead emboldened the Kremlin on the battlefield.

President Donald Trump has given Russian President Vladimir Putin a deadline of “two weeks.” Again. Asked on Wednesday whether he believes Putin really wants to end the war in Ukraine, Trump said he’s still mulling it over,

An evidently unprepared Obama administration made no serious protest of Putin's seizure of Crimea and occupation of part of the industrial Donetsk in February 2014. The Biden administration, expecting Russia's tanks to quickly take Kyiv, ordered American diplomats evacuated in February 2022.

Senator Lindsey Graham’s vow to act on a bill imposing new sanctions on Russia is set to test whether President Donald Trump is finally ready to punish Vladimir Putin for delaying a ceasefire with Ukraine.

Trump called Putin 'crazy' over the weekend and said May 27 he's 'playing with fire' as he continues to bombard Ukraine during peace negotiations.

Historically, President Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin have enjoyed a very special relationship ― at least if you’re viewing it through Trump’s perspective. As far back as 2013, Trump was envisioning a friendship with the Russian authoritarian leader,