The situation around the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) in Russia will not affect the progress of Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday.
"Under no circumstances. The special military operation in Ukraine continues, our soldiers at the frontline are demonstrating heroism, they are quite effectively and successfully countering the counteroffensive of Ukraine's armed forces. And the operation will continue," Peskov told journalists, answering the question on whether the events with the Wagner PMC would have an impact on Russia's operation in Ukraine.
The Kremlin's spokesman has also noted that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's efforts in talks with the Wagner Group private military company (PMC), Evgeny Prigozhin, were aimed at reaching the "highest goal" of avoiding an internal confrontation in Russia.
"There was the highest goal of avoiding bloodshed, internal confrontation and clashes with unpredictable results. It is for these goals that Lukashenko's mediation efforts were made, and President Putin made a relevant decision on that," Peskov told journalists, adding that the phone call between the two presidents was sincere and "very constructive."
The leaders agreed on Lukashenko's brokering efforts since the Belarusian president has personally known Prigozhin for around 20 years, the official stated, also noting that Lukashenko himself had proposed his talks with the Wagner head.
Peskov stated that thanks to the agreement the situation had been resolved without further losses, with members of the Wagner PMC able to return back to their field camps.