Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus, seems to have brokered a deal between Kremlin and Wagner. Not bad for a potato farmer, right?
Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin stated that he commanded his hired soldiers to cease their advance towards Moscow in order to prevent any loss of Russian lives. Prigozhin explained that despite being only 200 kilometers (120 miles) away from Moscow, he made the decision on Saturday to redirect his forces to avoid any potential bloodshed. Yevgeny Prigozhin expressed in an audio message that there were plans to disband the Wagner military company, prompting them to embark on a “march of justice” on June 23. However, Prigozhin acknowledged the potential for bloodshed and the responsibility it carried, leading him to make the decision to turn their forces back to their field camps as originally planned.
In anticipation of the private army’s arrival, Moscow took precautions by setting up checkpoints with armored vehicles and deploying troops at its southern edge. Red Square was closed, and the mayor advised motorists to avoid certain roads.
The Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, stated that he had negotiated with Prigozhin to halt the movement of the Wagner troops after discussing the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lukashenko’s office announced that they had accepted the offer and proposed a settlement that included security guarantees for the Wagner group, without providing further details. Prigozhin did not mention whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand to remove Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, and there was no immediate comment from the Kremlin.
