The Russian president also stressed that he would keep his promise: He would allow Wagner members to follow their leader Prigozhin to Belarus. After mediation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, he headed that way. It is not clear if Prigozhin actually got there.

Moreover, Wagner soldiers could still sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense. The option to sign the contract has been on the table for some time, because the Russian military will swallow up all private armies by July. This was, according to Prigogine, the reason for the uprising.

According to Putin, they can also completely lay down their arms and return to their families.