President Joe Biden has stated that neither Washington nor NATO had any involvement in the armed uprising orchestrated by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group of mercenaries, against the Kremlin. Speaking on Monday, Biden confirmed that he had spoken with “key allies” following the events and that they agreed it was essential to avoid giving Russian President Vladimir Putin any reason to blame the West.
“We made clear that we were not involved, had nothing to do with it. This was part of a struggle within the Russian system,” Biden said. He also mentioned that it was too early to draw definitive conclusions about the situation and its implications for Russia and Ukraine.
Biden’s remarks came after a weekend of instability in Russia. Prigozhin accused Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu of launching rocket attacks on his forces in Ukraine, calling for an end to the mistreatment of his fighters by the Kremlin. In response, the Kremlin opened a criminal case against Prigozhin for armed rebellion.
Prigozhin ordered his men to cross from Ukraine into Russia to confront Russia’s military leadership, leading to the seizure of the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and an advance towards Moscow. However, the uprising quickly ended when a deal was brokered with Prigozhin through Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s office, resulting in the withdrawal of Wagner forces.
The long-term fallout of these events and their impact on Russia’s war in Ukraine remains uncertain. Wagner forces had previously played a significant role in the fighting, particularly in capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut.
The US State Department acknowledges that the situation is dynamic and the ultimate implications for US interests are unclear. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated, “It is certainly a new thing to see President Putin’s leadership directly challenged.”
President Biden has been in close coordination with allies and partners, including discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Biden also had a detailed conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reaffirming the US’s support in Ukraine’s fight against Russian invasion.
As the situation continues to unfold, Biden and his national security team remain vigilant in monitoring developments and maintaining communication with allies and partners. The events have raised questions about the stability of Putin’s government and the potential implications for the region.