Evgeny Prigozhin has agreed to halt his advance on Moscow after a mediation effort led by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Belarusian state media reported Saturday evening.Lukashenko’s talks with Prigozhin, said to have stretched throughout the day Saturday, were agreed with Putin.
“As a result, the parties agreed to to the inadmissibility of unleashing a bloody massacre on Russian territory. Evgeny Prigozhin accepted President Lukashenko’s proposal to stop the movement of Wagner’s forces in Russia and to take further steps to de-escalate tensions,” the report said.
The report further indicated that “absolutely advantageous and acceptable option for resolving the situation” had been tabled, including “security guarantees for Wagner’s fighters.
“In an audio recording Saturday evening, Prigozhin said that his units had stopped 200 km from Moscow, and, recognizing the danger of “blood being spilled,” agreed to turn his forces around and return to their bases.