MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner mercenary group, and his commanders at the Kremlin to address the armed mutiny that Wagner attempted against the top brass of the Russian army, according to Putin’s spokesman on Monday.
The meeting, initially reported by French newspaper Liberation, stated that Prigozhin had met with Putin, as well as the head of the National Guard, Viktor Zolotov, and Sergei Naryshkin, the boss of the SVR Foreign Intelligence agency. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the meeting, revealing that it took place on June 29, just five days after the failed mutiny. The mutiny is widely regarded as the most significant challenge to Putin’s authority since he assumed power in late 1999.
Peskov informed reporters that Putin invited 35 individuals to the meeting, including Prigozhin and commanders from the Wagner unit. The meeting reportedly lasted for three hours. Peskov stated, “The only thing we can say is that the president gave his assessment of the company’s (Wagner’s) actions during the Special Military Operation in Ukraine and also gave his assessment of the events of June 24,” referring to the day of the mutiny.
Putin Listens to Wagner Commanders’ Explanations
According to Peskov, Putin listened to the commanders’ explanations of the events and offered them alternative options for employment and combat. Peskov added, “The commanders outlined their version of what happened on June 24. They emphasized that they are staunch supporters and soldiers of the head of state and the supreme commander-in-chief. They also said that they are ready to continue fighting for the Motherland.”
The brief mutiny, led by Prigozhin, involved Wagner fighters seizing control of the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and a military headquarters building. The situation was defused through a deal brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Putin, drawing parallels with the turmoil preceding the 1917 Russian Revolution, expressed gratitude towards his army and security services for averting chaos and civil war.
Prigozhin has stated that the mutiny was not aimed at overthrowing the government but rather at holding the army and defense chiefs accountable for what he deemed as their mistakes and unprofessional actions in Ukraine. Putin has thus far retained Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, as both men have made appearances on state television, rejecting Prigozhin’s calls for their dismissal.
Prigozhin was supposed to depart for Belarus as part of the agreement that ended the mutiny. However, Lukashenko announced last week that Prigozhin had returned to Russia, raising questions about the implementation of the relocation offer extended to Wagner fighters to move to Belarus.
