Former President Donald Trump warned against the possible impeachment of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, saying the Russian strongman’s successor could be “much worse.”
“Big mess in Russia, but be careful what you wish for. The next one could be much worse!” he told Truth Social.
Trump spoke amid an ongoing situation in Russia with Wagner’s private Russian military force marching toward Moscow in what appeared to be a major challenge to Putin’s leadership, 16 months into the war against Ukraine. The column of paramilitary fighters later announced they would turn around to avoid bloodshed.
LIVE BLOG: CHIEF WAGNER ORDERS TROOPS TO FLY FROM MOSCOW ‘TO AVOID BLOODSHED’
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at the South Carolina State House in Columbia, South Carolina, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (Sam Wolfe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In Moscow, the government launched private checkpoints, armored vehicles and other security measures ahead of Wagner’s army, marking a surprising and potentially explosive sign of division in Russia over Putin’s leadership.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the group’s commander, had accused military leaders of spoiling the war in Ukraine and said he had 25,000 troops under his command. The force moved 60 miles into Russia, claiming to have taken control of the city of Rostov-on-Don, from which the Russian military command has been coordinating its attack on Ukraine.
Prigozhin specifically targeted Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, accusing Russian government forces of attacking Wagner Field Camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery, and has previously called for the minister’s removal.
BIDEN ADMIN, FOREIGN OFFICIALS REACT AS WAGNER GROUP ‘MARCHES FOR JUSTICE’ TO MOSCOW
“This is not a military coup, but a march for justice,” Prigozhin said.
Putin, for his part, called the rebellion “treason” and promised harsh consequences for those involved.
“All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment,” Putin said. “The armed forces and other government agencies have been given the necessary orders.”
However, Prigozhin later appeared to defuse the situation by announcing that the march had been halted and that forces were being withdrawn to Ukrainian camp sites as part of a deal brokered by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. It’s unclear what the deal entails.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he speaks during a meeting with Russian war correspondents covering a special military operation at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
In an audio posted on social media, Prigozhin said that while his troops were only 120 miles from Moscow, he chose to turn back to avoid “shedding Russian blood.”
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A statement from the Belarusian government stated: “At this time, an absolutely cost-effective and acceptable option to resolve the situation is on the table, with security guarantees for Wagner PMC fighters.”
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In the US, National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said on Friday night: “We are monitoring the situation and will be consulting with allies and partners on these developments.”
Peter Aitkin of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Adam Shaw is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
