Inside Putin's secret meeting with Wagner boss Prigozhin 5 days after failed coup

It's a stunning twist after Putin branded Prigozhin a traitor and exiled him to Belarus, and it fueled claims that the Russian regime was extremely weakened

Putin offered an "assessment" of Wagner's actions on the battlefield in Ukraine (

Image: AP)

Vladimir Putin met with Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin five days after the mercenary leader led a rebellion in Russia, a Moscow official said. Wagner Group commanders joined the three-hour meeting on June 29 the day after the June 24 uprising, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

In it, Putin offered an "assessment" of Wagner's actions on the battlefield in Ukraine and "of the events of June 24." He also "listened to the commanders' explanations and offered them options for further employment," Peskov said.

He added: "They stressed that they were staunch supporters and soldiers of the Head of State and the Commander-in-Chief, and also declared that they were ready to continue fighting for their motherland. "

Prigozhin was ordered to flee to Belarus following his failed mutiny on June 24 (

Picture:

PA)

This is a stunning twist after Putin branded Prigozhin a traitor behind the back, and it has fueled claims that the Russian regime has been hugely weakened.

Prigozhin had marched his men to Moscow after a long dispute with the senior Russian military. But he ended the uprising after a deal was brokered for the ex-prisoner to be exiled to Belarus as the Kremlin drew up plans for Wagner's future.

The Russian Defense Ministry yesterday released a video showing military leader General Valery Gerasimov - the first time he has been shown since the rebellion aimed to overthrow him.

This came as Ukraine said Russia killed three women and a man in a missile attack on a humanitarian aid depot in the southern region town of Orikhiv from Zaporizhzhia.

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