The President of the United States, Joe Biden has declared that he was ‘not surprised’ at news that Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is the head of the Wagner mercenary group, died in a plane crash in Russia.
Speaking on Wednesday night, Biden said; ‘I don’t know for a fact what happened, but I’m not surprised’.
‘There’s not much that happens in Russia that (President Vladimir) Putin is not behind,’ Biden told reporters after taking an exercise class with his family near Lake Tahoe.
‘But I don’t know enough to know the answer’ of what may have happened to the powerful former Putin henchman, he said.
Prigozhin’s name was on the passenger list of the aircraft, which crashed northwest of Moscow, according to Russian state media.
Africa Today News, New York reports that 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’s 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.
Read Also: Tax Fraud: Special Counsel Appointed To Probe Biden’s Son
‘If I were he, I’d be careful what I ate. I’d keep my eye on my menu,’ Biden said.
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson also said Wednesday that no one should be surprised about Prigozhin’s sudden death, if confirmed.
She pointed to the June uprising and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The disastrous war in Ukraine led to a private army marching on Moscow, and now — it would seem — to this,” said Watson.
Meanwhile, Putin has told the leaders of China, India, South Africa and Brazil that the growing influence of their Brics group will lead to a multi-polar world.
Addressing the summit in Johannesburg by video, Mr Putin said he opposed the sway exerted by the G7 and other western-led groups.
He is unable to attend in person because he faces an international arrest warrant over Ukraine.