Łukašenka outlines his role in Wagner settlement

June 27, BPN. Alaksandr Łukašenka has outlined his role in resolving the standoff between Russian officials and Wagner mercenaries, after Vladimir Putin thanked the Belarusian strongman for his contribution to the peaceful settlement.

According to Łukašenka’s speech at an epaulette ceremony for senior officers in Minsk, on June 24 security officers told him that Putin wanted to get in touch, so Putin called to inform him about the munitiny.

Łukašenka said he realized that the Kremlin decided to suppress the uprising by force. He quoted Putin as saying that Prigozhin was not answering the phone. He said he promised the Russian president that he would try to speak to him.

Łukašenka went on to say that when he called Prigozhin, the man was in an agitated state. He stopped short of detailing the agreement reached during the talks.

The Belarusian ruler said the overall situation could have had dangerous consequences.

A long-standing feud between Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russia’s military brass resulted in his mercenaries taking over a military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and marching on Moscow over the weekend.

Official reports suggest that Łukašenka has brokered a deal allowing the Wagner boss to go into exile in Belarus because he eventually called off the uprising. The Kremlin said he will not be prosecuted.

Łukašenka has confirmed that Prigozhin is already in Belarus.