The mercenary rebellion that shook Russia was merely “a minor trouble,” the foreign minister said on Friday, warning the West not to think that President Vladimir V. Putin’s grip on power had weakened, even as the Kremlin continued to move against the leader of the mutiny.
Speaking at a news conference, Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov asserted that Russia would emerge “stronger and more resilient” after the short-lived putsch last Friday and Saturday by Yevgeny V. Prigozhin and his Wagner group troops, who have played a vital role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr. Lavrov dismissed the rebellion, which drove an armored column to within 125 miles of Moscow before turning back, as insignificant.
“If someone in the West has doubts about this, then that’s their problem,” he said.
But it is clear that the government is still cleaning up its aftermath.
Persons:
Vladimir V, Sergey V, Lavrov, Yevgeny V, Prigozhin, Wagner, ”, Putin
Organizations:
Kremlin, Mr
Locations:
Russia, Ukraine, Moscow