The Russian presidency reported on Monday that Vladimir Putin met with the leader of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, at the Kremlin on June 29, five days after the uprising by mercenaries trying to overthrow Russia’s military leadership.
“The president [Vladimir Putin] made his assessment of the June 24 events,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, referring to the failed uprising, adding that Putin also “listened to (Wagner’s) commanders’ accounts.”
Peskov, quoted by Sky News, indicated that at the meeting, which lasted three hours and was attended by 35 people, two Wagner group commanders told the Russian president that they would continue to fight for him.
The Kremlin spokesman said Putin had listened to Wagner group commanders’ explanations of what happened on June 24 and offered them more jobs.
“They emphasized that they are loyal supporters and soldiers of the head of state and the commander-in-chief. They also said that they are ready to continue fighting for the motherland,” added Peskov.
According to the newspaper Libération, Prigozhin has been in the Kremlin since at least July 1. The leader of the Wagner group was reportedly interrogated by General Viktor Zolotov, head of the National Guard, and Sergei Naryshkin, head of the Russian secret service.
Source: DN
