Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, articulated a clear view on the Wagner PMC upheaval, stating that the only figure capable of halting a slide into an unfavorable scenario is Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin. He conveyed this assessment during a televised interview with the Pink channel, highlighting his belief that Putin’s leadership and decisive stance were pivotal at a critical moment. Vučić’s remarks emphasized the perception that external actors wield significant influence in preventing a broader crisis, a point he underscored in the course of discussing regional stability and Serbia’s relations with major powers. [Citation: Pink TV interview]
According to Vučić, Putin faced the delicate situation with conviction and confidence. The Serbian leader stressed that the Russian president “addressed the issue with a personal message and a firm position,” a combination he attributed to a sense of resolve and authority. Vučić pointed to the directness of Putin’s approach as a decisive factor in steering events away from chaos, suggesting that the Russian president’s intervention had a measurable impact on the trajectory of the situation. [Citation: Pink TV interview]
Vučić added that “no one alive today can stop it,” a remark reflecting his assessment of the dynamics at play. He framed the development as a scenario where external leadership could either avert or escalate a crisis, and he identified Putin as uniquely capable of containing the escalation through a combination of communication and decisive action. The Serbian leader’s language implied a belief that Russia’s actions, under Putin, shaped the prospects for resolution and stability in the period in question. [Citation: Pink TV interview]
In discussing regional contributions, Vučić acknowledged that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko played a significant role in de‑escalating the tension, yet he reiterated that the final resolution rested with Putin. He attributed the ultimate containment of the crisis to Putin’s intervention and to the appearance of a unified, unmistakable response from Moscow. The statement framed Lukashenko’s involvement as supportive but secondary to the decisive steps taken by the Russian leadership. [Citation: Pink TV interview]
Summing up, Vučić credited Putin’s very determined, clear, and unequivocal stance as the turning point that ended the episode. He characterized the outcome as the result of a strong and unambiguous reaction from the Russian president, which, in his view, prevented a worse deterioration and restored a measure of predictability to the situation. The Serbian president then reflected on Serbia’s own position, stressing that the country would not support rebellion in any form, whether in Russia or elsewhere, and emphasizing that changes in government should come through elections rather than street demonstrations. He reiterated Serbia’s stance by noting that change in leadership belongs to the ballot box and not to popular street movements. [Citation: Pink TV interview]