Playing with fire...: Russia on Trump shooter with Ukrainian links

After another assassination attempt on the Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump, Ukrainian links emerged of the alleged shooter. Russia commented on the links on Monday, saying that Trump has shown “playing with fire” had consequences.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was asked what he thought about the apparent assassination attempt on Trump, to which he replied:

"It is not us who should be thinking, it is the U.S. intelligence services who should be thinking. In any case, playing with fire has its consequences," reported Reuters.

The comment could clearly be construed as a snide attack on the US for its support of Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.

Numerous news organisations, including CNN and the New York Times identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, citing law enforcement sources who remained anonymous.

The suspect also had three social media accounts in his name and the content clearly suggested that he is a supporter of Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia.

The New York Times was quick to realise and report that it had, in fact, interviewed Routh in 2023 for an article detailing how Americans were volunteering to help Ukraine in the war effort.

In the 2023 article, Routh told the paper that he had travelled to Ukraine in 2022, spending several months amidst the conflict. He also mentioned his efforts to try and recruit Afghan soldiers who fled the Taliban to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.

This was the second attempt on the former president's life after the first one on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a bullet grazed his ear but could have easily hit his head.