German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declined to engage in deep speculation about the fallout from the Wagner PMC uprising in Russia. In an interview with ARD, he called the moment not one for grand predictions and emphasized the need for careful observation. These developments are shifting the political landscape inside Russia, Scholz noted, and it would be imprudent to assume how the situation will unfold or what the future holds for the country. He warned that this is a large nation, one equipped with atomic weapons, and that vigilance is essential as events continue to evolve.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry, through its former foreign minister Tamas Menzer, claimed that the head of the department, Peter Szijjarto, possessed more insight than others into the developments in Russia during the uprising. This assertion underscores the level of interest and concern among European political leaders about how Moscow will respond to the challenge posed by the insurgent faction led by Yevgeny Prigozhin.
On the same day, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg stated that Austria had adopted measures to safeguard Russian and Ukrainian institutions in light of the Prigozhin revolt. These steps reflect Vienna’s effort to maintain stability and protect diplomatic and security interests amid a volatile regional crisis.
In Moscow, former Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a cryptic remark that drew attention and sparked discussion among observers. He referred to the situation in a way that suggested alignment or readiness, contributing to the mixed signals that surrounded the upheaval and its immediate repercussions on Russian politics and foreign policy.