Kremlin Spokesman: Putin Met with Prigozhin Five Days After Wagner Rebellion

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said on Monday, July 10, that the President of Russia held a meeting with the head of the Wagner Group and its commanders regarding their rebellion to overthrow the country's senior military commanders. According to Dmitry Peskov, this meeting took place on June 29, five days after the failed Wagner rebellion. Peskov stated that Putin invited 35 people, including Yevgeny Prigozhin and senior Wagner commanders, to this three-hour meeting. The Kremlin spokesman added that the President informed the attendees of his assessment of the actions of the Wagner Group during the 'special military operation' and their rebellion on June 24. According to Peskov, Putin then listened to the explanations of the Wagner commanders regarding this rebellion and provided them with more options for recruitment and combat. Experts consider this rebellion to be the most serious challenge to Vladimir Putin since he came to power on the last day of 1999. Valery Gerasimov and Sergey Shoigu, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army, made their first public appearance on Monday since the Wagner rebellion. The release of this image indicates that Vladimir Putin has retained Valery Gerasimov and Sergey Shoigu in their positions despite Yevgeny Prigozhin's request for their dismissal. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the image of Gerasimov was from a meeting on Sunday with 'the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia and the commander of Russian forces in Ukraine'; titles that Gerasimov held even before the Wagner rebellion. The retention of Shoigu and Gerasimov indicates the failure of Prigozhin's rebellion against the senior commanders of the Russian army, at least for now. On the right: Sergey Shoigu, Minister of Defense, Vladimir Putin, President, and Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army. Archive. Prigozhin had openly insulted the senior commanders of the Russian army months before his rebellion two weeks ago, but Putin, Shoigu, and Gerasimov did not react to it. The head of the Wagner mercenary group intensified his attacks against Shoigu in the week leading up to the rebellion and stated that the Ministry of Defense was lying to Putin about the reasons and conduct of the war in Ukraine. Prigozhin claimed that the purpose of his rebellion was to settle scores with Shoigu and Gerasimov and denied any attempts to seize power or challenge Putin. Wagner mercenaries in Belarus; Poland sent mechanized brigades to the east. A senior commander of the Wagner mercenaries: We are going to Belarus. Russian security agents inspected Prigozhin's offices to find evidence against the Wagner commander. The CIA chief: Prigozhin's armed rebellion shows that Putin has harmed Russia. Zelensky ordered the reinforcement of Ukrainian forces at the Belarus border. A week after the Russian military crisis; General Sergey Surovikin is 'in custody'. Biden: 'Today's weak Russia' is not only ostracized in Europe but in 40 countries worldwide. The future of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner in the Middle East and Africa is under American scrutiny. Russian crisis; Putin in a new televised speech: 'The armed coup' was thwarted. The U.S. State Department spokesman: The Wagner rebellion was a 'new moment' in Russia's war against Ukraine. Russia in crisis; Prigozhin broke his silence: We marched for justice. The U.S. Secretary of State: The turmoil in Russia may continue for months. The return of Wagner mercenaries to bases; Italy: The 'myth' of Russian unity has ended.