Putin expresses gratitude to Xi for support during virtual meeting after short-lived Russian coup attempt.

Russian President Vladimir Putin Thanks World Leaders for Support During Wagner Mutiny

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders during a virtual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. This comes just over a week after Putin faced a serious challenge to his power from the Wagner mutiny. The meeting was attended by leaders such as Narendra Modi of India, Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, and Ebrahim Raisi of Iran.

Putin’s Appreciation for Solidarity

“The solidarity and high responsibility for the fate of the fatherland was clearly demonstrated by Russian political circles and the entire society by coming out as a united front against the attempted armed rebellion,” Putin stated, referring to the Wagner mercenary group’s armed rebellion.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues from the (SCO) countries who have expressed support for the actions of the Russian leadership,” he continued.

Putin’s expression of gratitude aims to dispel any international suspicion of a rift between Russia and China, especially after Xi’s relatively quiet response during the mutiny. China’s Foreign Ministry issued a brief statement of support, emphasizing that the matter was Russia’s internal affair.

Xi’s Call for Unity

During the meeting, Xi implicitly showed unity against the United States and the Western world.

“We must be highly vigilant against external forces inciting a ‘new cold war’ in the region and creating confrontation between camps, (and) resolutely oppose any country’s interference in internal affairs and instigation of ‘color revolutions,'” Xi stated, referring to U.S. involvement in foreign democratic movements.

Putin has been working to restore a sense of normalcy after his former ally, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led the Wagner group in a march towards Moscow, threatening the lives of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The mutiny was eventually resolved with the help of Lukashenko, but not before several Russian airmen were killed by Wagner troops.

Prigozhin has since sought refuge in Belarus, leaving the future of the Wagner group uncertain.

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