Kremlin: No contact between Putin, Trump after attack

Press Secretary for the Russian president Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin had not contacted Donald Trump following the assassination attempt on the Republican US presidential candidate over the weekend and had no plans to do so.

When asked if security measures around Putin would be increased, Peskov noted that the Russian leader already had the appropriate level of protection, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

"Security is already strengthened for obvious reasons, regardless of incidents," Peskov told reporters. "We can only reiterate that the security of the head of state is provided at the appropriate level, with everything necessary being done considering the general international escalation of tensions."

The Kremlin does not believe the US administration is responsible for the assassination attempt on Trump but accused it of creating an atmosphere that provoked the attack. Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania due to a major security lapse. The attacker was shot dead, and law enforcement officials have not yet identified a motive.

Putin has not commented publicly on the incident. Peskov's remarks echoed those of some of Trump's Republican allies, who quickly blamed President Biden. "After numerous attempts to remove candidate Trump from the political arena—using legal tools, the courts, prosecutors, and attempts to politically discredit and compromise the candidate—it was obvious to all outside observers that his life was in danger," Peskov said.

Trump, 78, was holding a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania - a key state in the November 5 election - when shots rang out, hitting his right ear and leaving his face streaked with blood. His campaign said he was doing well.

"That reality is just setting in," Trump told the Washington Examiner on July 14. "I rarely look away from the crowd. Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today, would we?"

One person in the crowd was killed and two others wounded before Secret Service agents fatally shot the suspect.

Trump is due to accept his party's formal nomination at the Republican National Convention with a speech on July 18. He pumped his fist in the air several times as he descended the stairs from his plane after arriving in Milwaukee.

"This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together. The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it would've been two days ago," Trump told the Washington Examiner.