The Russian president demands the mercenaries of the Wagner company to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense. Prigozhin had previously flatly refused this.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin supported by the Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu in the dispute concerning the registration of fighters of the Wagner mercenary company under the Ministry of Defense.
Today, Tuesday, Putin held a televised conversation with Russian war journalists that lasted more than two hours.
During the discussion, Putin justified the mercenaries’ contracts by saying that only with the help of a contract with the ministry can the mercenaries receive state social benefits. There are currently no contracts.
– This must be done and as soon as possible, Putin said.
Department of Defense requirement for Wagner
Defense Minister Šoigu said on Saturday that all mercenary companies must sign an agreement by the end of June giving them legal status. According to Russian media, several companies have already implemented the requirement.
Director of the Wagner company Yevgeny Prigozhin however, immediately answered Šoigu bluntly that he was not going to obey.
– Wagner does not sign any contracts with Šoigu, he said.
In Prigozhin’s opinion, Šoigu does not know how to lead military formations. Prigozhin said he was coordinating Wagner’s activities with the general leading military operations in Ukraine By Sergei Surovikin with.
The agreements would damage Wagner’s effective command structure, Prigozhin continued his reasoning. He assured that Wagner’s actions were fully in line with Russia’s interests.
Although Putin and Šoigu justify the contract with Wagner with legal formalities, according to experts, the contract would bind Wagner strictly under the Ministry of Defense. At the same time, it would probably curb Yevgeni Prigozhin’s arbitrary behavior.
So far, Prigozhin has not commented on Putin’s order.
Source: Reuters