According to the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin should initially during the uprising of the Wagner mercenaries opted for a violent solution. Putin called him on Saturday morning and explained the situation to him, Lukashenko says, according to the Belarusian state news agency Belta. Lukashenko said he understood that the hard decision had already been made in the Kremlin to “kill” the Wagner people. He then had a telephone connection with the mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“In the first round we only spoke to each other with swear words for 30 minutes,” Lukashenko continued. Prigozhin was “euphoric”. He demanded a talk with Putin and the surrender of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Commander-in-Chief Valery Gerasimov and threatened a march on Moscow. Lukashenko’s answer: “Halfway there they will crush you like a bug.”
According to official information, Lukashenko, who is a close ally of the Kremlin chief, mediated between Putin and Prigozhin in the brief uprising of the Wagner mercenary units on Saturday and persuaded him to give up. In return, the Kremlin assured Prigozhin of impunity.