Russian invasion Russian reactions

Raisi/Putin/bin Hamad. AP 

  

Iran and Qatar have called Putin - expressed their support  

 

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has spoken on the phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin says according to AFP.  

 

"The Iranian president expressed his full support for the Russian leadership due to the events of June 24," writes the Kremlin in a statement.  

 

Putin also received a call from Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad, who also expressed his support, according to the statement.  

 

On Monday, a video speech with Putin was also released - the first statement since the weekend's Wagner uprising, writes Reuters.  

 

However, the events were not mentioned by the president, who instead devoted the speech to congratulating the participants of an industry conference.  

 

 

Sergei Shoigu. AP 

 

Russian invasionRussian reactions  

Shoigu in Ukraine - first performance after the weekend  

 

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is visiting Russian troops in Ukraine, reports the state-run Russian news agency Ria on Monday, according to Reuters. 

 

It is the first time the minister has been seen after the weekend's drama surrounding the Wagner group's entry into Russia. The news agency cites the Defense Department report, which makes clear that he still leads the army.  

 

Shoigu has been the main target of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's wrath. Prigozhin has accused him of incompetence and withholding ammunition and support for his soldiers.  

 

One of Prigozhin's main demands during the advance towards Moscow was that Shoigu should resign, a source close to the Kremlin tells exiled Russian Meduza. Many pundits have speculated on his future after the weekend's events.  

 

 

Still from the clip released on Monday. AP  

 

The Russian invasion|The response of the outside world  

Analysis: The images of Shojgu a demonstration of power  

 

Monday's pictures of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Ukraine could be a show of power - a way for the Kremlin to show that it is still focused on the war after the weekend's Wagner uprising, writes BBC correspondent Mayeni Jones.  

 

Russian war bloggers state that the visit was likely made and filmed before the weekend, Financial Times correspondent Max Seddon writes on Twitter.  

 

"Whether it's true or not, it's still remarkable that it was released - it shows that Shoigu (seemingly) still has Putin's support," he continues.  

 

Two days after the end of the revolt, the burning questions remain unanswered - more specifically: where is Prigozhin? says Sky News correspondent Diana Magnay.  

 

She wonders if he is in Belarus or not, and if so, if he is in exile, disgraced. 

 

- Or is it a cunning maneuver by the Kremlin to place him in Belarus, where Wagner - if he can get troops there - can perform some kind of pincer maneuver against Kyiv again?  

 

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausedas greets German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Mindaugas Kulbis / AP  

 

Germany ready to place 4,000 soldiers in Lithuania  

 

Germany is ready to permanently station a brigade in Lithuania, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said during a visit to the capital Vilnius, according to Reuters.  

 

Germany, which leads the NATO force in Lithuania, is preparing to send an additional 4,000 troops on top of the 1,450 already there - something Pistorius said underlined Berlin's willingness to work for regional security.  

 

On Sunday, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda underlined the need to strengthen defenses on its eastern flank, as Lithuania borders both Russia and Belarus.  

 

- Given the very long eastern flank, the transatlantic alliance must respect the principle of military flexibility in the defense of our common freedom, Pistorius said during a press meeting with Nauseda and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

 

Josep Borrell. Carl Court / AP  

The Russian invasion. The outside world's response  

EU summit: Putin's monster bites its creator  

 

The Wagner group's revolt shows how the Russian political system and the military leadership are cracking, says EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, according to Reuters. 

 

- The monster that Putin created with Wagner is now biting him, the monster is turning against its creator.  

 

It is worrying that a nuclear power like Russia is experiencing such political instability, says Borrell, adding that the EU's continued support for Ukraine is now more important than ever.