The West Gloats
Read Time:4 Minute, 31 Second
Western leaders and media gloat over the unfolding situation in Russia with many predicting the end of the Putin era
Reaction has been pouring in from Western nations amid the ongoing coup attempt staged by the private military company Wagner in Russia.
Taking to Twitter on Saturday, President of the European Council Charles Michel wrote that the EU was “closely monitoring the situation in Russia as it unfolds,” and remains in touch with “European leaders and @G7 partners.”
The official went on to describe the ongoing crisis as “clearly an internal Russian issue,” while pledging “unwavering” support for Ukraine.
The bloc’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, tweeted that he “had a call with @G7 Foreign Ministers to exchange views on the situation in Russia.”
In addition, the EU has set up a “crisis response centre.”
Meanwhile, US National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge has said that President Joe Biden has been briefed on the latest developments in Russia and “will be consulting with allies and partners.”
The French presidential office has told the media that Emmanuel Macron “is following the situation very closely.” Similar messages have been issued by the German, Italian, Swedish, and Norwegian governments, as well as a NATO representative.
Speaking to the BBC, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged “all parties to be responsible and to protect civilians.”
“We’re in touch with our allies as the situation evolves. I’ll be speaking to some of them later today and the most important thing is for all parties to behave responsibly,” the premier stressed.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky posted a message on Twitter, reading: “I see that my summer vacation in Crimea is approaching.”
In Estonia, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, announced that security had been strengthened along the country’s border with Russia. Neighboring Latvia has introduced similar measures.
Polish President Andrzej Duda has said that he has held “consultations this morning with the Prime Minister and the Ministry of National Defence, as well as with the Allies.”
He added that the “course of events beyond our eastern border is being monitored on an ongoing basis.”
At the same time, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder assessed the situation in Russia as “serious.“
Defense officials in Britain, meanwhile, characterized the ongoing coup attempt as the “most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times.”
They also assessed that Wagner forces were “almost certainly aiming to get to Moscow,” with some government forces seeming to be unwilling to put up resistance.
London strongly advised its citizens against traveling to Russia, while the German foreign ministry merely recommended staying away from Rostov-on-Don as well as Moscow’s city centre.
Western newspaper columnists and pundits rushed to predict the downfall of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government, a military victory for Ukraine, and an uncertain end for Wagner chief Evgeny Prigozhin.
Among American outlets, CNN offered the most dramatic analysis, painting Wagner as a “dark, mercenary Frankenstein…which has turned on its masters.” The broadcaster described Prigozhin’s coup as “the most serious threat to [Putin’s] power in all the 23 years he’s run the nuclear state.”
CNN predicted that internal ructions in Russia will “alter the course of the war in Kiev’s favor,” despite Ukraine’s counteroffensive stalling at the expense of 13,000 casualties, according to Russian figures.
Extrapolating on this scenario, CNN speculated that “Putin’s regime will ever go back to its previous heights of control from this moment,” and that “further turmoil and change is ahead.”
Sky News
Britain’s Sky News was more measured, stating that as of Saturday morning, it was “not immediately possible to gauge the impact of the Wagner boss’s verbal detonation,” and that it remained to be seen how many of Prigozhin’s troops would stay loyal to their rebel boss. Nevertheless, Sky noted that the Wagner chief’s threats “will surely at a minimum be unnerving and could lead to wider instability.”
The New York Times
The US’ paper of record was similarly reserved. Attributing Prigozhin’s insurrection to Putin’s “tolerance” of the Wagner boss’ earlier criticisms of the Kremlin, the New York Times noted that “there was no sign that Mr. Putin’s hold on power was about to crumble.”
Noting that Putin’s closest associates all remain loyal to the Kremlin, the Times highlighted the fact that Prigozhin has “no real independent power base except the favor of the president.”
BBC
Britain’s national broadcaster downplayed the threat to Putin and the effect the attempted coup may have on the battlefield in Ukraine. “This is not a direct challenge to Russia’s war in Ukraine and Prigozhin has maintained he is not disputing the president’s leadership.” the BBC wrote. It is, however, “a defining moment for the Putin leadership and a wake-up call for Russians,” the broadcaster added.
The Financial Times
The Financial Times offered one of the most apocalyptic takes on the situation. “It is hard to believe that Putin can ultimately survive this kind of humiliation,” columnist Gideon Rachman wrote in an op-ed also carried by the Irish Times. “His prestige, his power, even his life, are now on the line.” Rachman did not cite any evidence to back up his claim that Putin’s life may be threatened.
Source RT/Telegram
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