Kremlin Claims Trump Shooter’s Ukrainian Connections Demonstrate Risks of Provocation, Reports Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin announced on Monday that the purported connections of the alleged shooter in the assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump to Ukraine illustrated that there are consequences for "playing with fire."

This statement was a pointed reference to the support the United States has provided to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, including tens of billions of dollars in military assistance aimed at bolstering Ukrainian forces against Russian aggression.

When questioned about what the FBI described as a potential assassination attempt on Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked, "It is not us who should be thinking, it is the U.S. intelligence services who should be considering the implications. In any case, playing with fire has its consequences."

Peskov, when asked whether the assassination attempt could destabilize the United States, stated that it was not a matter for Russia, although he indicated that Russia was keeping an eye on the developments.

"We observe how tense the situation is there, especially among political rivals," Peskov said. "The political struggle is intensifying, and a variety of tactics are being employed."

Multiple news outlets have identified the suspect as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh from Hawaii, citing anonymous law enforcement sources.

Three social media accounts linked to Routh indicate he was a strong supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

Additionally, reports suggest that Routh was interviewed earlier this year for an article concerning Americans volunteering to assist with the Ukraine war effort. In that interview, he shared that he traveled to Ukraine and spent several months there in 2022, seeking to recruit Afghan soldiers who had fled the Taliban to join the fight in Ukraine.