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It’s only the third month of the US presidential election year, and the topic of Russia keeps rearing its head.

It began after former Fox News-host Tucker Carlson made a pilgrimage to Moscow to interview Vladimir Putin.

Then, Donald Trump stunned many with the suggestion he’d encourage Russia, two-years into an invasion of Ukraine, to expand its attack and target NATO members.

Too smart to be manipulated by Russia: Elon Musk.Credit: AP

Then, billionaire Elon Musk, who has floated Kremlin-friendly peace plans, hosted a live discussion on Twitter with Republican senators discussing if the US should continue funding Ukraine’s defence against Russia.

In a matter of weeks, Moscow has somehow, improbably, re-inserted itself as a talking point into another US election cycle.

Similar to the 2016 election in which Trump was elected, Russia is working to subvert American politics and leadership. Unlike 2016, the goal isn’t simply to harass a candidate and discredit democracy in the global public’s eyes.

Today, Moscow’s goals are to unravel US resolve in supporting Kyiv.

“Russia does not have sufficient military capability to achieve its maximalist objectives if Ukraine’s will to fight persists alongside Western support,” writes the Institute for the Study of War think tank. “Degrading US decision-making is one of the few, possibly the only way, to narrow the gap between Russia’s goals and means in Ukraine.”

A suspect in the Crocus City Hall shooting on Friday is escorted to the Russian Investigative Committee headquarters in Moscow, Russia. Credit: AP

Kremlin-linked social media accounts now pushing claims that “the US, Ukraine, or a combination of both were involved” in the March 23........

© Brisbane Times