Jacques Serais/Photo credit: XOSE BOUZAS / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
modified to
8:40 a.m., June 26, 2023
The forces of the paramilitary group Wagner retreated to Russia on Sunday, putting an end to the rebellion launched by their leader Yevgeny Prigojine which shook the Kremlin and revealed, in the eyes of Westerners, “cracks” and “divisions” in the camp of Vladimir Poutine.
After the abortive mutiny of this Saturday, Vladimir Putin managed to avoid the worst. Wagner’s fighters withdrew from Russian territory. This rebellion of the paramilitary group made the master of the Kremlin tremble for hours, forced to recognize the seriousness of the internal threat. This coup has monopolized the attention of world leaders. Emmanuel Macron sees this as proof of the divisions in Vladimir Putin’s camp, but remains very cautious.
Divisions within the Russian camp
French President Emmanuel Macron followed the events hour by hour, in conjunction with France’s main partners. On Saturday, he spoke by telephone with several heads of state, including US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish President Andrzej Duda and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
For Emmanuel Macron, this aborted coup shows “the divisions that exist within the Russian camp, the fragility of both its armies and its auxiliary forces such as the Wagner group”. In his eyes, this fully justifies the support given to the Ukrainians in their resistance.
To remain vigilant
However, Emmanuel Macron wishes to remain cautious. “All of this should make us very vigilant,” he said in an interview with Provence. A minimum statement for the president. “I don’t think we earn a lot commented on this”, justifies an adviser from the Elysée.
A caution that is in order everywhere among the allied countries of Ukraine, at the request according to certain sources of the United States, who do not want to give the impression of pulling the strings one way or another.