Shoigu makes TV address; US and Russia talked during Wagner revolt

Shoigu makes TV address; US and Russia talked during Wagner revolt
by AFP Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) June 26, 2023

US diplomats reached out to Russian counterparts in "real time" to discuss security concerns during the Wagner mercenary group revolt, the White House said Monday.

The relatively rare Russia-US contact came during the mutiny by Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner group, which briefly took control of a major city and threatened an attack on Moscow. The upheaval sparked fears in Washington that nuclear-armed Russia could descend into chaos.

"Instability in Russia is something that, you know, we take seriously and we certainly had lots of questions over the course of the weekend," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, when asked about fears over turmoil in nuclear-armed Russia.

"We did have and were able to have in real time -- through diplomatic channels -- conversations with Russian officials about our concerns," he said.

Kirby said US officials continue to monitor Moscow's nuclear posture "very closely" during the invasion by Russian troops of pro-Western Ukraine.

So far there is "no indication" that Russian President Vladimir Putin is moving in the "direction" of using nuclear weapons or "anything that will cause us to change our own deterrent posture," Kirby said.

Russia received China's 'support' over Wagner mutiny: ministry
Moscow (AFP) June 25, 2023 - Russia's foreign ministry said Sunday that Beijing had backed Moscow's efforts to counter a short-lived armed uprising led by the head of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin.

"The Chinese side expressed support for the efforts of the leadership of the Russian Federation to stabilise the situation in the country in connection with the events of June 24, and reaffirmed its interest in strengthening the unity and further prosperity of Russia," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

The release came after a meeting in Beijing between China's deputy foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu and Russian deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko.

Wagner mercenaries were headed back to base Sunday as their mutinous leader agreed to go into exile after President Vladimir Putin was forced to accept an amnesty deal.

China's readout from the meeting however said the two deputy foreign ministers had "exchanged views" on bilateral ties and "international and regional issues of common concern".

Beijing says it is a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, but has been criticised by Western countries for refusing to condemn Moscow and for its close strategic partnership with Russia.

Russian defence minister makes first appearance on TV since Wagner crisis
Moscow (AFP) June 26, 2023 - Russian state television on Monday broadcast footage of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu inspecting Russian troops, in his first public appearance since a failed mutiny by Wagner forces.

Shoigu -- the target of fierce criticism by the mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin -- went to a command post for Russian forces in Ukraine and held a meeting there with the leader of one of the units, according to images shown by the broadcaster.

During the meeting, the minister highlighted "great efficiency in the detection and destruction" of Ukraine's weapons systems and soldiers, the ministry of defence said in a press release.

The footage shows Shoigu listening to a report being presented on the area's military situation, studying maps and taking a helicopter ride to inspect Russian positions.

Wagner mercenaries headed back to their base on Sunday after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow Prigozhin to avoid treason charges and accept exile in neighbouring Belarus.

The agreement brought an end to an extraordinary crisis after the private army, led by Putin's former close ally, tried to storm Moscow.

Prigozhin has repeatedly blamed Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, for his fighters' deaths.

Prigozhin was last seen late Saturday in an SUV leaving Rostov-on-Don, where his fighters had seized a military headquarters, to the cheers of some local people.