Wagner mutiny stirs questions on Russian President Putin's power
1 min read 26 Jun 2023, 07:23 AM ISTUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken questions Russian President Vladimir Putin's leadership power after the challenge by Wagner Group fighters, stating that the turmoil in Russia has weakened Putin.
PremiumUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday questioned the leadership power of Russian President Vladimir Putin after the unprecedented challenge by Wagner Group fighters. The remarks came in a series of television interviews.
They said the turmoil in Russia has weakened Putin in ways that could aid Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces within its territory while benefiting Russia's neighbors, including Poland and the Baltic states, according to a report published by Reuters.
Speaking to ABC's ‘This Week’ program, Blinken said, “I don't think we've seen the final act. Tensions that sparked the action had been growing for months and added the threat of internal turmoil could affect Moscow's military capabilities in Ukraine."
"We've seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade. It is too soon to tell exactly where they go, and when they get there. But certainly, we have all sorts of new questions that Putin is going to have to address in the weeks and months ahead," Blinken told NBC's "Meet the Press" program.
The top US official further described the turmoil as an ‘internal matter’ for Putin.
"Our focus is resolutely and relentlessly on Ukraine, making sure that it has what it needs to defend itself and to take back territory that Russia seized," Blinken stated.
"It may be that Putin didn't want to debase himself to the level of negotiating directly with Prigozhin," he added.
The United States also expects more on the Russian rebellion will be learnt in the coming days and weeks including what was discussed in the deal between Prigozhin and Belaru President Alexander Lukashenko.
Meanwhile, US Senator Ben Cardin said the weekend turmoil in Russia does not ease Washington's need to continue aiding Ukraine as it launches its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia.
"This is a critical time for Ukraine. This counteroffensive is going to be defining as to where we're going to be in the next year or two," Ben Cardin said, adding, “So it's incredibly important that we maintain our support and not be fooled by what's happening in Russia today as to the needs of the Ukrainians."
(With Reuters inputs)
