Vladimir Putin offered Wagner’s fighters to join the army or go to Belarus, in a speech on Monday June 26 on Russian television. After the withdrawal of the troops of the Wagner paramilitary group that revolted on Saturday, the Russian president spoke for the first time about the resignation of Yevgeny Prigojine.
“Patriots loyal to their people”
He denounced an alleged instrumentalization of the organization’s mercenaries and thanked those who gave up participating in the rebellion.
“Most of Wagner’s fighters are patriots loyal to their people,” Vladimir Putin insisted. “They demonstrated it on the battlefields by liberating Donbass (…).
According to him, “they were used against their comrades-in-arms with whom they fought for their country”, referring to “external pressure”.
Contracts with the army or go to Belarus
“I thank the soldiers and Wagner fighters who made the right decision to stop, who did not allow bloodshed,” added the Russian head of state.
He then again raised the possibility that Wagner members might want to enter into a contract with the Defense Ministry, a possibility raised after the deal with militia leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“You have the opportunity to continue serving Russia, signing the contract with the Ministry of Defense”, that is, signing a contract with the regular army, “returning to your families and loved ones” or “going to Belarus”.
“The choice is yours, but I am sure it will be the choice of the Russian soldiers who have realized their tragic mistake,” he concluded.
Source: BFM TV
