Wagner plays much too important of a role in advancing Russia’s national security interests in the special operation and Africa for it to be disbanded or mismanaged by a motley crew of bureaucrats who’d risk accidentally neutralizing its effectiveness while trying to bring it more fully under state control. For this reason, President Putin sought the insight of their patriotic leaders in order to make sure that it remains a formidable instrument in the Kremlin’s toolkit, which necessitated Prigozhin attending their meeting.
Did you read Alexander Solzhinitzen’s novel “The First Circle”? I think Putin should have Prigozhin in a facility like the one in the book. Where he could speak to him at a moment’s notice any time he wants. I was in sympathy with Putin’s point of view before the war, and hoped it would end as soon as possible with an agreement that Ukraine would never be part of NATO. Alas, so many have died now that, even though I have faith that Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO as long as the war continues, I fear that what was not an existential threat to Russian Federation in the beginning has become just that. As a patriotic American I take the realist position that for the Russian Federation to break up would be a global catastrophe, therefore a leadership vacuum at the top must be avoided at all costs, therefore Mr.Putin must remain in office as long as he chooses. And there are an awful lot of people who make no secret about their desire that that not be the case. I do not think Mr. Putin should dispense with the ongoing counsel of a man who, although I do not speak Russian, I observed as the mutiny was unfolding in real time to be a patriot who had been pushed to the breaking point by what he perceived as his inability to communicate effectively to Mr. Putin that the war needed to be run by the most competent soldiers around. Mr. Prigozhin is not a soldier, he is a manager who is respected by the soldiers who work for him. I hope that Mr. Putin will keep him in a position where his advice can be gotten on an ongoing basis.
It should go without saying that, like President Biden, I want to avoid a war between the US and Russia at all costs.
As the mutiny was underway, Prigozhin continued to emphasize that he was not rebelling against Putin. He was rebelling against the MoD leaders Shoigu and Gerasimov, whom he blamed for mishandling the war, and for misleading Putin in the beginning about the Army’s capabilities. His goal was replacing those two so the war could be won, or at least not lost. He never ceased to declare his loyalty to Putin himself. Leading a mutiny is not an action that can be seen to be rewarded. But a man as intelligent as Putin must see that he can benefit from Prigozhin’s counsel as the war continues.
Did you read Alexander Solzhinitzen’s novel “The First Circle”? I think Putin should have Prigozhin in a facility like the one in the book. Where he could speak to him at a moment’s notice any time he wants. I was in sympathy with Putin’s point of view before the war, and hoped it would end as soon as possible with an agreement that Ukraine would never be part of NATO. Alas, so many have died now that, even though I have faith that Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO as long as the war continues, I fear that what was not an existential threat to Russian Federation in the beginning has become just that. As a patriotic American I take the realist position that for the Russian Federation to break up would be a global catastrophe, therefore a leadership vacuum at the top must be avoided at all costs, therefore Mr.Putin must remain in office as long as he chooses. And there are an awful lot of people who make no secret about their desire that that not be the case. I do not think Mr. Putin should dispense with the ongoing counsel of a man who, although I do not speak Russian, I observed as the mutiny was unfolding in real time to be a patriot who had been pushed to the breaking point by what he perceived as his inability to communicate effectively to Mr. Putin that the war needed to be run by the most competent soldiers around. Mr. Prigozhin is not a soldier, he is a manager who is respected by the soldiers who work for him. I hope that Mr. Putin will keep him in a position where his advice can be gotten on an ongoing basis.
It should go without saying that, like President Biden, I want to avoid a war between the US and Russia at all costs.
As the mutiny was underway, Prigozhin continued to emphasize that he was not rebelling against Putin. He was rebelling against the MoD leaders Shoigu and Gerasimov, whom he blamed for mishandling the war, and for misleading Putin in the beginning about the Army’s capabilities. His goal was replacing those two so the war could be won, or at least not lost. He never ceased to declare his loyalty to Putin himself. Leading a mutiny is not an action that can be seen to be rewarded. But a man as intelligent as Putin must see that he can benefit from Prigozhin’s counsel as the war continues.