Erdogan, Stoltenberg discuss recent events in Russia
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discussed the latest changes in Russia after Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's attempt at an armed mutiny failed.
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before a meeting in Istanbul on Friday, October 11, 2019. (AP)
The Turkish presidential office stated Sunday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed recent developments in Russia involving the Wagner Group private military company (PMC), also the possibility of Sweden's NATO membership.
In a statement, the office reported that both "sides discussed recent events in Russia and noted that the end of tensions in Russia had averted an irreversible humanitarian disaster in Ukraine."
Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year, citing changes in the European security picture because of the Ukraine crisis. As Finland went on to become a member, Turkey, and Hungary have stymied Sweden's bid, with Budapest citing grievances over Stockholm's criticism of Orban's record on democracy and the rule of law and Ankara accusing Sweden of harboring what it sees as Kurdish terrorists and, most recently, meddling in Turkish elections.
Moreover, the Turkish President stated that changes in the Swedish law regarding terrorism are insufficient to approve its NATO bid.
The Kremlin confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday and briefed him on the situation in the country in light of the attempted armed mutiny.
According to the Kremlin, Erdogan expressed his full support for the measures taken by the Russian leadership.
The Washington Post reported Sunday that US intelligence agencies learned that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group private military company (PMC), might be planning a mutiny and alerted the White House and other government agencies so they wouldn't be caught off guard.
Rostov Governor, Vasily Golubev, announced on Sunday evening that the Wagner group began its exit from Rostov on Sunday evening as determined in the mediated agreement led by Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko.
This is how the convoy of "Wagner" military equipment left Rostov-on-Don last night pic.twitter.com/6oNAJgqoPV
— Sprinter (@Sprinter99880) June 25, 2023
