Belarusian President Lukashenko Recounts Ongoing Talks with Wagner’s Prigozhin After June Events
The Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, detailed the exchanges with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner PMC, in the wake of Prigozhin’s armed march on June 24. He explained that he chose to disclose the negotiations after observing a surge of jingoistic responses that condemned the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and demanded punitive actions against opponents. Lukashenko noted that, in his view, suggestions to retaliate aggressively against opponents were widespread among those who criticized the Russian leadership.
He recalled that amid the tensions, the discussion included tense and blunt language. Yet, he also highlighted a practical undertone: both sides needed to avoid actions that would trigger a full collapse of dialogue and create worse consequences. Lukashenko described a moment when some expected a quick, punitive resolution, but he advised that a careful approach was necessary to prevent escalation. The Belarusian leader also pointed to the timing of events, mentioning a national alumni day on the prior Friday that drew public attention away from the situation unfolding in southern Russia, while acknowledging that the war situation remained volatile across the region.
According to Lukashenko, Putin reached out early in the morning to share a detailed account of developments in Russia. The conversation underscored the seriousness of the moment and the perception that a harsh decision had been contemplated to intensify the confrontation. Lukashenko counseled patience and urged Russian leadership to pursue negotiations with Prigozhin and his commanders rather than rushing to force a conclusion by force.
Putin reportedly told Lukashenko that an immediate resolution would not work. Prigozhin was described as being unreceptive to phone calls and difficult to reach, which complicated efforts to coordinate next steps. Lukashenko indicated that Prigozhin quickly answered his own phone when contacted, and the first round of conversations carried strong language but also a moment of direct communication. Prigozhin outlined demands, including a request to bring Shoigu and Gerasimov into talks and to arrange a meeting with Putin, a goal Lukashenko treated as unlikely to be fulfilled under existing circumstances.
One striking part of the dialogue, Lukashenko recalled, involved the possibility that the security services might be the only institutions able to contact the key Russian officials. He suggested that Putin was clear about the difficulties in engaging with Prigozhin at that time, given the surrounding pressures. The Belarusian president recalled a warning that the situation could deteriorate quickly if no careful steps were taken, and he emphasized the need to avoid a scenario in which talks collapsed and violence intensified.
During the exchange, Lukashenko recounted that the two leaders discussed the danger of a rapid, violent crackdown. He emphasized that killing Prigozhin would not be a viable option due to the potential for widespread bloodshed and the broader political fallout. The discussion centered on preventing a scenario in which thousands of innocent people could suffer as a result of the upheaval. Lukashenko urged restraint, noting that heroism or sensational outcomes should not be celebrated in such tense moments, and he expressed hope that the crisis would resolve without spreading further harm.
Negotiations reportedly stretched across several rounds. In the end, Prigozhin rejected the requests presented and, citing concerns about the safety of his forces, asked Lukashenko for guidance on what to do next. Lukashenko offered reassurance, saying that actions would not commence if there was a risk of triggering a deadly response. He recalled stressing that Moscow would not rush into unilateral moves and that a bloodless path could still be found. Prigozhin pledged to withdraw without bloodshed, though the path forward remained uncertain.
The Belarusian president described a reconciliation offer that allowed Wagner forces to depart safely to Belarus if needed. He asserted that Prigozhin arrived in Belarus around June 27, and he framed the proposal as a measured way to avoid a broader confrontation while allowing the fighters to relocate if required. Lukashenko claimed that Belarus would assist with logistics and would not demand immediate concessions from the departing group, provided the arrangement remained financially feasible for all sides.
Lukashenko suggested that the Belarusian defense leadership considered the presence of Wagner units in the country as potentially instructive for the national armed forces while noting that no formal camps were established yet. He left open the possibility of hosting the Wagner group in designated zones or temporary quarters if the situation warranted it, while stressing that Minsk would not open Wagner reception points for the general population.
In the days following, Wagner forces were described as moving toward key locations and engaging in operations near Rostov-on-Don before advancing toward Moscow. Putin characterized Prigozhin’s actions as a betrayal and warned of consequences. The security services launched a criminal inquiry into the attempted insurrection, which was later dropped. A day later, Lukashenko met with Prigozhin and persuaded him to halt the advance. Prigozhin announced a reversal of plans and ordered his units to retreat to field camps.
Official casualty information remained sparse, though reports from military observers and social channels indicated that some military assets belonging to the Russian Ministry of Defense were lost in the early stages of the upheaval, with crews perishing as a result. President Putin later observed a moment of silence for the fallen pilots during a meeting with security forces. The full details of the losses were not publicly released at the time of these events, and various outlets continued to report on the evolving situation with guarded language. Attributions for the information presented here come from official briefings and public statements by the involved leaders, as summarized in the notes of the period.
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