Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Matthew Miller, announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau to review the developing events in Russia. The update appeared in a post from the U.S. Department of State.
According to Miller, Blinken and Rau met on Saturday, June 24, to assess the latest developments in Russia and to coordinate responses as needed. The conversation highlighted the ongoing coordination between the United States and Poland, reflecting long-standing security and diplomatic ties and a mutual interest in stability along Europe’s eastern flank.
During the discussion with the Polish diplomat, Blinken expressed appreciation for Poland’s readiness to support Ukraine and reaffirmed that U.S. commitments to Kyiv would not waver. He also stressed that Washington would maintain close coordination with allies and partners as the situation evolves, ensuring a unified approach to any future actions or contingencies.
Earlier reporting from Politico indicated that U.S. officials had reached out to European colleagues to ease concerns amid the upheaval in Russia. The accounts suggested high-level conversations, including calls among President Joe Biden, Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Army General Mark Milley, to exchange assessments and align on steps with European partners as events unfolded.
On the evening of June 23, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military company, claimed that Russian defense forces struck the rear camps of the group and that Wagner fighters were advancing toward Moscow in what he described as a march for justice. Russia’s Prosecutor General later filed a lawsuit accusing Prigozhin of organizing an armed riot, a move that drew sharp attention to the internal strains around the initiative.
The morning of June 24 saw Wagner forces briefly halt at Rostov-on-Don, with reports that the administration buildings there were secured. President Vladimir Putin reportedly moved toward Moscow and condemned Prigozhin’s leadership as a betrayal, warning of consequences for him and his lieutenants. The government mobilized additional regional support, including a deployment by Chechen forces to Rostov in a show of readiness to defend state authority and restore order as needed.
Later that day, Belarusian officials released a briefing indicating that negotiations between President Alexander Lukashenko and Prigozhin had produced an arrangement described as an acceptable solution that would safeguard the security of Wagner fighters. Prigozhin publicly stated that he was reversing his column movements and returning to field camps, signaling a potential de-escalation of the immediate confrontation. The sequence of events drew international attention to the fragility of internal military alignments and the ways in which neighboring states seek to influence outcomes through diplomacy and leverage.
Experts noted that while the exact future steps were not immediately clear, the incident underscored the importance of steady alliance cooperation and rapid information sharing among Western allies. Observers emphasized that ongoing dialogue with partners remains essential to monitoring shifts on the ground, assessing risks to civilians, and evaluating potential responses that protect regional stability. In Washington, staff and advisors continued to calibrate positions, balancing strategic goals with the need to prevent broader disruption to international markets, security guarantees, and humanitarian channels tied to Ukraine. The overarching theme across official statements was a commitment to collective security, open channels of communication, and a readiness to adapt as events unfold in real time.