June 24, 2023
The optics of Belarusian President Lukashenko playing a direct role in halting a military advance on Moscow are humiliating to Putin and may have secured Lukashenko other benefits.
The Belarusian Presidential Press Service announced that Putin informed Lukashenko about the unfolding situation in southern Russia the morning of June 24, suggesting Putin approached Lukashenko to resolve the armed rebellion, though the Belarusian government often spins interactions with the Kremlin to its advantage and this framing is unconfirmed. Lukashenko reportedly used his own “existing channels” to clarify the situation on the ground and negotiate with Prigozhin. Lukashenko’s reported access to previously established channels and successful negotiation with Prigozhin likely indicates Lukashenko has unspecified influence over Prigozhin he could leverage to de-escalate the situation. Lukashenko previously used Wagner forces to advance his election campaign after Belarusian authorities arrested 3 Russian citizens who allegedly belonged to the Wagner Group in late July 2020. Lukashenko accused the alleged Wagner operatives of planning to interfere with Belarusian elections despite Wagner forces openly using Belarus as a transit country for their missions in the past. The incident resulted in Lukashenko initiating a call with Putin on August 15, 2020, and releasing 32 Wagner personnel. Lukashenko will likely seek to use the de-escalation of the armed rebellion to advance his goals, such as delaying the formalization of the Russia-Belarus Union State or preventing Putin from using Belarusian forces in Ukraine.
By OFP
Yesterday, the window of opportunity for Ukraine in Belarus was slammed shut after Progizhin gave up his endeavor. Luka, the slimy eel, was presented a way on that day to slither out of putler’s little fist and strengthened his own position by this negotiated deal between the two ghouls. Kyiv snoozed and lost.
Maybe that was the plan all along, to get Ukraine to attack Belarus, then Wagner come to the rescue. We’ll never know, but Ukraine are no worse off by just sitting back to see how it develops.
Belarus was very shaky during this affair. I’m sure news of this spread like wildfire in Belarus. If Ukraine had made a decisive move, we would be in a different, more advantageous position right now. A military incursion in mafia land’s deepest-stuck shit nugget country would have been masses of gasoline in an already blazing fire. It would also have affected the mafia army in Ukraine. That’s my humble opinion.
I will never vote in US elections again until Putin is killed.