Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had an intriguing phone call with President Joe Biden on Sunday, where he revealed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s weakness. This conversation took place following the military rebellion of the Wagner mercenary group.
Putin’s Regime Exposed
Zelenskyy informed Biden about his assessment of Putin’s regime, stating, “Yesterday’s events exposed the weakness of Putin’s regime.” This statement was released by Ukraine’s presidential office on June 25.
During the rebellion, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his forces captured Rostov-on-Don, a crucial logistical hub for Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine. They accused Russian military forces of killing numerous Wagner soldiers at their field camps in Ukraine. The mercenaries then marched hundreds of miles towards Moscow, but their progress was halted after reaching a withdrawal agreement.
Under this agreement, Prigozhin agreed to leave Russia for Belarus, and the criminal charges against him would be dropped. However, before the deal was reached, Putin vowed that the rebels would face “inevitable punishment.”
Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia’s Wagner mercenary force, speaks in Paraskoviivka, Ukraine, in this still image from an undated video released on March 3, 2023. (Concord Press Service/via Reuters)
Zelenskyy took to Twitter to describe his conversation with Biden as “positive and inspiring.” He expressed gratitude for the president’s “unflagging support” of Ukraine.
They discussed the ongoing hostilities and the situation in Russia. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for international pressure on Russia until order is restored. They also explored the expansion of defense cooperation, particularly in the area of long-range weapons.
Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation to Biden for providing Ukraine with Patriot defense systems and supporting the “fighter jet coalition.”
According to a White House readout, Biden and Zelenskyy discussed the recent events in Russia. The White House reaffirmed unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine, including security, economic, and humanitarian aid.
Assessing Putin’s Power
Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine’s defense minister, also had a conversation with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday.
Reznikov shared on Twitter that they discussed recent events in Russia and agreed on the weakness of the Russian authorities. They both believe that withdrawing Russian troops from Ukraine is the best choice for the Kremlin. They also discussed the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian army and plans to strengthen their Defense Forces.
The Pentagon stated that Reznikov and Austin pledged to remain in close contact and discussed regional security developments and dynamics on the ground in Ukraine. Secretary Austin reiterated unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine and discussed security assistance priorities.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on Wagner’s revolt, stating that it revealed “cracks” in Putin’s power.
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