US President Joe Biden Denies Involvement in Russian Uprising

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United States President Joe Biden emphasized that both Washington and NATO had no role in the armed uprising led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group of mercenaries.

Biden stated that he had discussed the situation with key allies and stressed the importance of not giving Russian President Vladimir Putin any excuse to blame the West.

Assessing the Fallout and Uncertain Path Ahead:

Biden acknowledged the weekend's events in Russia and mentioned that it was still too early to draw definitive conclusions about the situation.

He expressed the need to assess the fallout and implications for Russia and Ukraine while keeping a close eye on the developments.

Escalation between Prigozhin and the Kremlin:

The uprising originated from escalating tensions between Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Kremlin.

Prigozhin accused Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu of attacking his mercenary forces in Ukraine and called for an end to the mistreatment by Russia's military leadership.

This accusation led to a criminal case against Prigozhin for armed rebellion.

Uprising and Swift Resolution:

Prigozhin ordered his forces to cross from Ukraine into Russia, initiating what he called a "march for justice" against Russia's military leadership.

Wagner forces briefly seized Rostov-on-Don and advanced toward Moscow before a deal was brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, resulting in the stand-down of Wagner forces.

Specific details of the agreement remain undisclosed.

Prigozhin's Statement and Uncertain Fallout:

Yevgeny Prigozhin relocated to Belarus and clarified that his fighters did not aim to overthrow the existing regime or the legally elected government.

He claimed his forces turned around to avoid bloodshed among Russian soldiers. The long-term implications of the weekend's events and their impact on Russia's war in Ukraine remain uncertain.

International Coordination and Support for Ukraine:

President Biden discussed the situation with key allies, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Biden reassured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the US's continued support in their fight against Russian invasion.

(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)