Before the rebellion launched by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin in Russia was resolved, the US and other Western allies of Ukraine asked Kiev to refrain from attacking Russian territory, CNN (US) quoted Western officials as reporting on June 26.
“The message is don't do anything that will upset the situation,” one official told CNN, saying the message was conveyed at the level of the foreign minister, deputies and through ambassadors.
According to this person, the West fears that Moscow will view such actions by Ukraine as support for the rebels and attempts to challenge Russia's sovereignty by Kiev and its allies.
Ukrainian officials were told that “it is an internal Russian matter,” the official added, echoing what US and other Western officials have said publicly.
“The Ukrainians have been warned by their allies not to provoke the situation. Take advantage of the opportunities on Ukrainian territory but do not get drawn into internal affairs or attack military facilities inside Russia,” the official said.
People pose for a photo as members of the Wagner group sit on a tank in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. Photo: RFE/RL
In its conflict with Russia, Ukraine is suspected of carrying out an increasing number of covert cross-border attacks and sabotage of military facilities on Russian territory, including a drone attack on the Kremlin, where the Russian president lives and works. Ukrainian forces are also said to have shelled Russia’s Belgorod region, near the border between the two countries.
“You should not put into the story that this is our initiative,” the official said. “What the Russians always want is to demonstrate that there are threats to Russian sovereignty.”
Axios (US) previously reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent an urgent telegram to US State Department staff on June 23, prohibiting them from commenting on the Wagner private military group's rebellion plot in Russia. The telegram also indicated that Mr. Blinken and his associates were directly following the events in the incident.
Members of the Wagner group prepare to withdraw from the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don to return to their base, June 24, 2023. Photo: RFE/RL
A 36-hour mutiny in Russia over the weekend ended with a Belarus-brokered deal as Wagner militants were reportedly on their way to Moscow. The Kremlin said Wagner tycoon Prigozhin had agreed to live in exile in Belarus.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a speech to the nation on June 26, said that the West and Ukraine want to see Russian soldiers killing each other.
“Russia’s enemies want to see fratricide… They want Russian soldiers to kill each other,” Mr Putin said, warning that attempts to sow unrest in his country would fail .
Minh Duc (According to TASS, CNN)
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