The uprising of Wagner mercenaries last weekend proved, according to NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a “major strategic mistake” by Russian President Vladimir Putin. “This proves that the war is bombing Russia’s power,” said Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in Russia,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this morning at a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. “The events of the weekend are a Russian internal affair, and they are further proof of the grave strategic mistake made by President Putin with his illegal annexation of Crimea and the war against Ukraine.”
political instability
According to Josep Borrell, the European Union’s High Representative for Defense and Foreign Policy, the Wagner Group’s insurrection proves that the war in Ukraine is “fracturing” Russian power. Borrell said today before the meeting of foreign ministers of member states that political instability in a nuclear power like Russia is “not a good thing.”
The monthly Foreign Affairs Council looks set to become a routine meeting, but this weekend’s events in Russia have given ministers a place to focus their attention.
The Wagner monster created by Putin eats its creator
Upon their arrival, many of those present react to the averted armed uprising of the Wagner paramilitary group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. “The Wagner monster created by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is eating his creator,” said Borrell, who is chairing the meeting in Luxembourg. What happened in Russia this weekend shows that the war against Ukraine is undermining Russia’s strength and eroding its political system. The political system shows weaknesses and the military force wavers.”
According to the Spaniard, the fact that a nuclear power like Russia has become unstable can in no way be considered a positive thing. “We have to take that into account.”
“Russia is one of the two largest nuclear powers on the planet. We cannot remain indifferent to what is happening there,” said Austrian Minister Alexander Schallenberg. In any case, Europe should closely monitor the internal situation in Russia, said his fellow Swede Tobias Billström. Because what happens there will have a clear impact on the security conditions” in Europe.
Dutch Minister Wubke Hoekstra said: “Of course we are all very concerned about what war and developments like this mean now for the stability of Europe.” “But let’s keep our eyes on the ball.” According to the Dutchman, Ukraine’s allies should not allow themselves to be distracted, but they should continue to help the country keep Russia at bay.
Russia’s immediate neighbors such as Lithuania felt more insecure since Wagner’s rapid advance towards Moscow. Lithuanian Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis concluded that the West would not be able to see a Russian attack coming for days. Russia is “unpredictable” and therefore neighboring countries must be strengthened.
Huge cracks in advertising
According to German Foreign Minister Analina Berbock, the events show that Putin is leading his country to ruin because of the war in Ukraine. She sees “huge cracks in Russian propaganda”. Among other things, Prigozhin contradicted the official justification for the entire war.
As a result, Landsbergis sees “more momentum” for Ukraine. According to him, Russia has reached a very high, very far level, and Russian history will show that “it will then have problems in Moscow.”
See also. ‘Total disgrace to Putin’: Russia expert Caroline van Nuenen sees Putin ‘totally weak’ after Wagner uprising
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