Putin, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu (R-L) pictured during a meeting at the Kremlin in April. Pavel Bednyakov / POOL / TASS  

Zero Hedge: Russia Wants World To Know It Had China’s Full ‘Support’ During Wagner Mutiny 

The AFP is describing mixed emotions among Russians living in some large cities of “relief” and “sympathy” after Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner Group mounted a short-lived armed mutiny which made it halfway toward Moscow from the Rostov region on Saturday. 

Prigozhin stood down and ordered his convoys to turn around, reportedly after the mediation of President Viktor Lukashenko, and will now go to Belarus – with his mercenaries being given the option of signing a contract with the Russian military. 

As we detailed, video clips showed a peaceful handover of military HQs in the south, particularly in Rostov-on-Don, after which the regular military command took back control.  

Read more ….  

Update: Russia Received China’s ‘Support’ Over Wagner Mutiny: Ministry (Moscow Times/AFP)  

WNU Editor: There was nothing much that China could do when the mutiny was in play. But now that it is over the concern in Beijing is how will this impact Russia’s military objectives and operations in the war in Ukraine. 

On this question my Chinese friends and I are in agreement. Putin will be adopting a more aggressive stance in prosecuting the war, an escalation that Beijing is going to feel very uncomfortable to support, but in the end they will support it albeit privately.