JABAR EKSPRES – North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s illegal war on Ukraine has deepened divisions and created new tensions in Moscow.
He referred to last weekend’s uprising of the Wagner mercenary group in Russia, which he called a Russian internal affair.
“At the same time, we should not underestimate Russia. So, it is more important that we continue to provide support to Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said on Tuesday (June 27).
“Ukrainian forces are now counterattacking. The fighting is tough, but they are making progress. The more territory Ukraine can liberate, the stronger their position at the negotiating table,” he said, adding.
READ ALSO : President Lukashenko Confirms Wagner Leader’s Presence in Belarus
The Wagner group leader accused Russian forces of attacking his fighters and then crossing from Ukraine into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
In response, the Federal Security Service opened a criminal case against the armed insurgency group, while Putin called the insurgency treason.
Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said his fighters would move on Moscow, prompting the Kremlin to step up security measures in various regions.
Prigozhin later said his soldiers decided to turn back to avoid bloodshed when they were about 200 kilometers from Moscow.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he held talks with Wagner’s leader after Putin’s approval, and Prigozhin accepted the de-escalation deal.
