“Baerbock: Power Struggle in Russia is Part of a ‘Theatrical Performance'”

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock does not believe that the power struggle in Russia has ended following the withdrawal of the Wagner mercenary group. “It is still unclear what is happening there. I am stating clearly what is happening there, not what happened there,” said the Green Party politician on the sidelines of an EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg.

It remains uncertain what will transpire with the various actors in Russia. The events over the weekend were evidently just “an act in this Russian theatrical performance,” according to Baerbock’s assessment.

However, it is clear, according to Baerbock, that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is destroying his own country with the brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. “We see the devastating consequences of Russia’s war of aggression also on Putin’s power system. […] And we see massive cracks in Russian propaganda,” she said.

“Germany Continues to Support Ukraine”

Regarding the role of Germany and the EU, Baerbock explained that they do not interfere but closely analyze the situation because it carries risks that cannot currently be assessed. “For us Europeans, the sole objective is to support Ukraine in being able to live in peace and freedom again,” she added.

Therefore, the EU financial instrument, which funds, among other things, arms deliveries to Ukraine, will be increased by €3.5 billion, and Germany will provide an additional 45 Leopard anti-aircraft tanks by the end of the year.

Over the past weekend, a long-standing power struggle between the regular army and the private mercenary group Wagner escalated in Russia. Led by their chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner mercenaries occupied the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Saturday and threatened to march on Moscow.

As a result, anti-terrorism measures were taken in several regions. However, on Saturday evening, Prigozhin unexpectedly ended his uprising after Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko intervened.