World
oi-Prakash Kumar Bhavanji
The Wagner Group, which attempted a coup in Russia, may be out of Russia, but Russia could become more dangerous to the world if Putin weakens, European Union officials have warned.
EU officials have said that Russia has become more dangerous since Wagner’s rebellion, as it has revealed that President Vladimir Putin is politically weaker than ever and his power could now be challenged.
Senior officials attending an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday reiterated that the latest chaos in Russia, where mercenaries came 200 km from Moscow on Saturday, was an internal matter. In which their governments have played no part, but a weakened Putin is a concern for Europe.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived at the meeting on Thursday and said “a weak Putin poses a major threat.”
Borel said that “Putin has lost his monopoly on the military.” He said he expected Putin “to be in cleaning mode internally, to become more aggressive” following the threat to his power from a rebellion by Wagner fighters.
Borrell said that the intelligence services of EU member states are analyzing the situation, because “we now have to see Russia as a threat because of internal instability.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said it is “too early” to draw conclusions about the implications of recent events, but that Wagner’s coup has opened cracks in the Russian military.
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said, “The insurgency we have seen inside Russia shows that there are cracks and divisions in the Russian system. But, we have to remember that these are Russia’s internal affairs.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said there was no such goal as “regime change in Russia”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who addressed the EU summit via video link on Thursday, sent a clear message to those who claim Russia is more dangerous with a weakened Putin.
“We’re seeing them weaken, which is what we need most,” Zelenskiy said.
Zelensky said, “The weaker Russia is, and the more its masters fear a coup, the more they fear disturbing us. Russia’s weakness will make it safer for others, and its defeat will solve the problem of this war.”
Deep fissures in Putin’s system?
European Union leaders have agreed that the Wagner case has given Putin a jolt to rein in his power.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, one of several EU countries bordering Russia, insisted that the chaos created by the Wagner coup was the main reason for taking a hard line with Putin.
“Some people say that ‘a strong Putin is less dangerous than a weak Putin,’ I don’t agree with that. We have to move forward and be decisive, because now a decisive moment in history has already arrived,” Nouseda said.
European Union President Ursula von der Leyen said, “It shows the deep cracks in Putin’s system. There will be aftershocks from last week’s uprising, which we will see.”
Officials from several member states and EU institutions have said that the chaos and instability created by the uprising will not only force the EU to redouble its support for Ukraine with commitments for more ammunition, but also ensure that fighting and violence do not spread to the EU.
European countries are feeling more threatened after Wagner forces took refuge in Russia’s neighbor and ally Belarus, and European countries bordering Belarus have blocked their borders.
English summary
Will Russia become more dangerous when Putin weakens? EU officials tense
Story first published: Friday, June 30, 2023, 16:01 (IST)
