https://arab.news/9xbmm
- Joe Biden: 鈥楾here鈥檚 not much that happens in Russia that (President Vladimir) Putin is not behind鈥�
- White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson: 鈥楾he disastrous war in Ukraine led to a private army marching on Moscow, and now 鈥� it would seem 鈥� to this鈥�
WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he was 鈥渘ot surprised鈥� at news that Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group, may have died in a plane crash in Russia.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know for a fact what happened, but I鈥檓 not surprised,鈥� Biden said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not much that happens in Russia that (President Vladimir) Putin is not behind,鈥� Biden told reporters after taking an exercise class with his family near Lake Tahoe.
鈥淏ut I don鈥檛 know enough to know the answer鈥� of what may have happened to the powerful former Putin henchman, he said.
Prigozhin鈥檚 name was on the passenger list of the aircraft, which crashed northwest of Moscow, according to Russian state media.
The crash came two months after he launched Wagner on a short-lived rebellious march on Moscow, aiming to force the removal of the country鈥檚 military leadership.
Last month in Helsinki, Biden jokingly warned that Prigozhin, whose elite Wagner force has played an important role in the war on Ukraine, should watch his step after his abortive rebellion.
鈥淚f I were he, I鈥檇 be careful what I ate. I鈥檇 keep my eye on my menu,鈥� Biden said.
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson also said Wednesday that no one should be surprised about Prigozhin鈥檚 sudden death, if confirmed.
She pointed to the June uprising and Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine.
鈥淭he disastrous war in Ukraine led to a private army marching on Moscow, and now 鈥� it would seem 鈥� to this,鈥� said Watson.