(Kyiv) The Canadian government promises to keep an eye open on the chaotic situation in Russia where the boss of the armed paramilitary group Wagner, Evgueni Prigojine, launched his troops against Moscow before turning them back.
Global Affairs Canada, which had previously advised Canadians to avoid traveling to Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, said it “was at risk of further civil unrest across the country.”
“Security restrictions, including movement limitations, have been put in place in some areas, including Moscow,” read a travel advisory posted on the Global Affairs website on Saturday.
This notice was issued prior to Prigozhin’s announcement that he was giving up his advance to Moscow. He decided to turn back to avoid, according to him, a bloodbath.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced an Incident Response Group meeting to review the situation in Russia.
Mr. Trudeau met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, the Minister of National Defense, Anita Anand, the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, and senior government officials.
The Incident Response Group has provided an update on the latest updates from Russia, according to Trudeau’s office. Specifically, ongoing coordination efforts with international partners were discussed and officials are assessing the implications of the situation for Canadians and Canadian personnel.
“The Panel has agreed to continue to monitor the situation and to work closely with allies and partners,” Alison Murphy, the prime minister’s press secretary, said in a written statement.
Trudeau said on Twitter that Canada was in touch with its allies. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely,” he said.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly wrote on Twitter that she and her counterparts from the G7 countries “meeted to discuss the events in Russia”. She did not give any further details on this subject.
The United States Department of State and the German Foreign Ministry gave little details of the discussion in which the head of European Union foreign policy also took part.
The United States reaffirmed the country’s support for Ukraine. The Secretary of State continues to coordinate with its allies.
The President and CEO of the Congress of Ukrainian Canadians recalled that Russia was maintaining its war effort despite the ongoing turmoil.
“Now is the time for Canada and the allies to provide all the weapons Ukraine needs to defeat Russia,” said Ihor Michalchyshyn. The Ukrainians need what they need to win and they will win. »
European Union and G7
The head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep Borrell, after noting at first that the event was “an internal problem in Russia”, while indicating to follow the situation “carefully”, recalled in a tweet that “our support for Ukraine is unwavering”.
PHOTO SIMON WOHLFAHRT, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
TThe head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep Borrell
He also said he had activated the EU’s “crisis response center” to coordinate exchanges between the Twenty-Seven, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers scheduled for Monday in Luxembourg.
And added that the foreign ministers of the G7 had also met on Saturday, without giving any details on the content of these exchanges.
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin received “full support” from his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a telephone interview on Saturday.
PHOTO ADEM ALTAN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Belarus
Wagner’s rebellion is a “gift” to the West, said the Belarusian National Security Council.
“Any provocation, any internal conflict in the military or political ranks, in the field of information or in civil society, it is a gift made to the West [et] this can lead to a disaster”.
“Protect civilians”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on the BBC on Saturday for “all parties to be responsible and to protect civilians”, adding that he was following the situation “closely”.
PHOTO HENRY NICHOLLS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
“In the hours to come, the loyalty of the Russian security forces, in particular the Russian National Guard, will be essential for the outcome of the crisis. This represents the most important challenge for the Russian state in recent times, ”wrote for its part the Ministry of Defense, in a daily point on Twitter.
Many European countries (France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium) have reacted to the situation in Russia, ensuring, through their government departments or ministers, by press releases or on Twitter, “to follow the situation very closely” or “very carefully”, adding for some other comments or advice of caution with regard to their nationals in Russia.
“We remain focused on supporting Ukraine,” the French presidency said.
“These events show how the aggression against Ukraine is also causing instability in the country,” said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, quoted by her services.
“We are coordinating with our closest allies,” the German Chancellery announced.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises travelers “to avoid downtown Moscow until further notice”, as well as “government facilities, especially military”.
Norway also advises against all travel to Russia.
Denmark advises its citizens in Russia “to stay indoors, [de] wait and [de s’] inform through media such as Itar-Tass”.
Bulgaria also asks its nationals “to avoid going to Russia” because of the current tensions.
“Nuclear Danger”
Conservative Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, one of the few heads of government to meet Putin in Moscow after the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, insisted on the nuclear danger.
PHOTO LEONHARD FOEGER, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer
“The operations of the Russian Federation are always of the utmost importance, because [elle] has great potential for biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. In this, the cohesion and unity of the EU are of the utmost importance”.
Austria also advises its nationals in Russia to avoid Russian territories bordering Ukraine, including the Rostov and Krasnodar regions, and calls for vigilance in Moscow and in major cities.
Irony
Finally the Czech Republic, through the voice of two of its ministers, reacted on Saturday with a certain irony.
“There, we finally know what the Russians meant by a Special Operation. After 16 months of war in Ukraine, Russia is waging war on Russia,” Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said.
PHOTO PETR DAVID JOSEK, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova
” It is not a surprise. It’s a tradition with them. Failed wars always end with the execution of the Tsar, followed by chaos and a civil war overseen by Secret Service spies. Congratulation ! “, she added.
As for Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, he contented himself with a laconic: “I can see that my summer holidays in Crimea are approaching”.
France Media Agency