US President Joe Biden has denied involvement in an armed uprising against the Kremlin, prompted by Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group of mercenaries. He has spoken with key allies and emphasised that they had nothing to do with the events, as they were part of a struggle within the Russian system. Biden said they will continue to assess the fallout of the events and their implications for Russia and Ukraine. However, it is still too early to reach a definitive conclusion about where this is going.
Prigozhin accused Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu of launching rocket attacks on his mercenary forces in Ukraine, leading to a significant escalation in the ongoing war of words between Prigozhin and the Kremlin. The Kremlin opened a criminal case against Prigozhin for armed rebellion. By Saturday, Prigozhin ordered his men to cross from Ukraine into Russia to confront Russia's military leadership in a "march for justice." Wagner forces seized the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and began an advance towards Moscow, with Prigohzhin demanding the removal of Defence Minister Shoigu. Putin accused Prigozhin of "treason" and a "stab in the back."
The long-term fallout from the events and their impact on Russia's war in Ukraine remains unclear. Wagner forces had previously played a vital role in the fighting, particularly in capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's statement, stating that the rebellion exposed "real cracks" in Putin's government.
Biden discussed the situation with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He also spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as part of his close coordination with allies and partners following recent events in Russia. Biden also spoke at length with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pledging the US's continued support as Ukraine fights off invasion by Russia.
