(KYIV) \u2013 Russian state television host Vladimir Solovyov has dismissed the gravity of an assassination attempt against US President Donald Trump, arguing that developments in Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine are of far greater consequence.<\/p>\n
During the 26 April broadcast of \u201cSunday Evening With Vladimir Solovyov\u201d on the Russia-1 channel, the presenter acknowledged that the attempt on Trump\u2019s life had dominated global headlines. \u201cAnother attempt on the US president. And immediately the whole world is talking about it. This is the main news, including in our media. But for me it is not,\u201d Solovyov stated.<\/p>\n
The Kremlin propagandist instead listed a series of domestic military setbacks that he claimed were being overlooked. \u201cFor me, far more important news is that Sevastopol is under a very serious attack,\u201d Solovyov said. \u201cFor me the news is that something reached Yekaterinburg and hit a residential building. For me the news is that it flew 1,000 kilometres. They saw it and did not destroy it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Solovyov further complained about continued Western support for Kyiv. \u201cFor me the news is that the pilgrimage to Ukraine is still continuing. Known who. And all sorts of European [expletive] are doing nothing but writing indignant letters after my speeches and summoning our ambassadors,\u201d he said. He added that Moscow should expel all NATO ambassadors from countries that \u201cdirectly declare their participation in the war against us and provide their production facilities. But we pretend that nothing is happening.\u201d<\/p>\n
The host contrasted what he described as media scandals with the concerns of Russian soldiers serving in occupied Ukraine. \u201cI was just with the guys on the front, as usual. Not one of these media scandals worries the guys in the army at all. Absolutely not at all. They talk about completely different problems,\u201d Solovyov claimed. He said soldiers inquire about when Russia will have a low orbit satellite constellation, reliable communications, drone superiority \u201con land, in the sky and in the air,\u201d and when Moscow will begin \u201cdecisively destroying the leaders of the Nazi tourist regime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Solovyov also questioned why Ukrainian drones continue to strike deep inside Russian territory. \u201cHow does it happen that they reach us? Do we not know how to shoot them down? We do know how. But first we looked at Ust luga, then we looked at Tuapse, now we are looking at Yekaterinburg. Even further. Yes, in response we take out objects on the enemy\u2019s territory. I understand, but this is not the category of a response game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The presenter pointed to military cooperation with Pyongyang as a counter to Western claims that Russia faces manpower shortages. \u201cThe presence on the territory of our country of an additional contingent of 100,000 to 150,000 servicemen of the Korean People\u2019s Democratic Republic instantly deprives Ukraine of any argument that the Russians will run out of soldiers. They will not run out,\u201d Solovyov said, adding that a similar agreement with China would render the strategy of attrition against Russia obsolete.<\/p>\n
Solovyov expressed bewilderment at economic policies he suggested were hampering the war effort. \u201cIt is clear that a war of attrition is difficult to wage when you are being exhausted by very strange decisions taken by people whose main task, it turns out, is fighting inflation. I cannot understand this. I have not seen a single person on the front who said a word to me about inflation. There are none at all,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Returning to the Trump assassination attempt, Solovyov adopted a sardonic tone. \u201cAnd Trump? Well yes, another attempt on Trump. I understand, of course. Well, of course, this is bad. Of course, this should not happen. Of course, all world leaders support Trump, say it is horrible. I agree that, of course, an attempt on the leader of a country is terrible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He then requested a list of which national leaders may be targeted and which may not, \u201cbecause I naively thought that nobody was allowed, except those who\u2026 Zelenskyy is not on this list, because he is illegitimate and a terrorist.\u201d He added, \u201cI am categorically against any aggressive actions against the leaders of countries. Somehow, though, it is different with this scum, right? It is different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has not publicly commented on the assassination attempt against Trump, with whom he has often expressed admiration. The Kremlin has previously denied allegations of state sponsored assassination plots against political opponents abroad.<\/p>\n