The Kremlin has confirmed the meeting between Russian President Putin and the head of the Wagner Brigade, Prigozhin. The two met on June 29 in Moscow, five days after the failed uprising.
The Kremlin spokesman said 35 people were present at the meeting, including Wagner's commanders, who have told Putin they will continue to fight for him. This was announced by the prestigious news agency, "Reuters".
The news was reported by the French newspaper "Liberation", citing Western intelligence sources. According to the newspaper, Prigozhin also spoke with General Viktor Zolotov, commander of the Rosgvardia national guard and a loyalist of the president, and with Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia's foreign intelligence.
Prigozhin in the Kremlin allegedly "negotiated the fate of his empire", explains the French media. A few days ago, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed that the founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is not in Belarus, but has returned to Russia.
The commander of Wagner's mercenaries said earlier that the purpose of the march to Moscow was not to topple Russian President Vladimir Putin from power.
In his first reaction after the mutiny, Prigozhin says he started the march to protect his forces, after Moscow ordered their disbandment on July 1.
"We did not march to overthrow the leadership of Russia. We avoided the destruction of Wagner, as it would cease to exist on July 1", he said.
According to Prigozhin, the main goal of Wagner's forces was to remove Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who has been critical of him since the beginning of the military offensive in Ukraine.
After marching for about 24 hours, while 200 km from Moscow, Prigozhin agreed to withdraw after a deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, ending the armed rebellion.