Borrell named main lessons the EU should learn from mutiny in Russia

EU High Representative Josep Borrell has named the main lessons that the European Union and the international community should learn from the attempted coup in Russia by the founder of the Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin.

This is reported with reference to Josep Borrell's own blog on the website of the European External Action Service.

The first lesson, in his opinion, is that the aggressive war against Ukraine has weakened the regime of dictator Vladimir Putin much more than previously thought.

"Prigozhin’s mutiny, and the fact that hardly any forces actively opposed the capture of the main Russian headquarter in the war against Ukraine, and the subsequent march on Moscow, showed the depth of the divisions within the Russian army and state apparatus," Borrell wrote.

He recalled that on June 27, Putin publicly admitted for the first time that the Wagner PMC did indeed receive massive support and funding from the Russian state.

"Putin created a monster, and now the monster has bitten him. The fact that a state-funded group of mercenaries opened fire on the regular state army illustrates the degree of pathology of Putin’s Russia," the EU top diplomat said.

According to him, despite the failed coup attempt, Putin has suffered a serious loss of authority, which will have real consequences for the future.

"But here comes another lesson learnt from the ongoing Russian war of aggression: Putin’s Russia represents the biggest threat to European and global security and its nuclear arsenal makes it not less but more dangerous for the entire civilised world," Borrell emphasized.

The EU High Representative noted that Ukraine's victory will open the door for Russia to begin a process of change, which is "a prerequisite for a lasting peace."

He also called for monitoring the events in Belarus, where some of the Wagner troops are allegedly being transferred, and the reaction of the Kremlin's allies (primarily China), who could also reconsider their attitude towards Russia and Putin.

Last week, the founder of the Wagner PMC gathered 25,000 of his soldiers made a march to Moscow demanding a change in the military leadership and the head of the Defense Ministry. But the rebellion ended quickly, allegedly due to Prigozhin's conversation with Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Author – Anastasiya Glotova, 05/07/2023