Donald Trump warns of ‘unintended consequences’ if Putin is ousted

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Former US President Donald Trump arrives on stage to speak at the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton on June 24, 2023, in Washington, DC. AFP

As private mercenary Wagner announced his march to Moscow in what appeared to be a coup against Russia’s top leadership, former US president Donald Trump expressed his concerns on Saturday that if President Vladimir Putin is ousted from power, “unintentionally consequences” will follow.

Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, 77-year-old Trump wrote: “A big mess in Russia, but be careful what you wish for. The next one could be worse!”

The comments by the former president who has been indicted twice on charges including hush money payments, overturning 2021 election results and keeping highly classified documents at his home came as news spread across world about rebellion.

Later, Wagner’s leader Evgeny Prigozhin agreed to stop his advance on Moscow after returning his guns to the Russian leadership.

In response, Putin vowed to crush an armed uprising led by Wagner who claimed to have seized control of a southern city in a coup attempt against top military brass.

Putin, in a televised statement, called the actions “treason”, and a “stab in the back”, adding that Prigozhin’s move was a “shot to Russia, to our people”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a video address, on June 24, 2023, as Wagner fighters rebel. AFP

On Friday, the Wagners’ leader appeared to have crossed a redline, saying Putin’s stated justification for his special operation against Ukraine 16 months ago was based on lies “created by the top brass of the army “.

“It took the war … for Shoigu to become a marshal … for him to get a second ‘Hero’ [of Russia] medal,” Prigozhin said in a video clip.

At 2:00am, Prigozhin posted a message on Telegram saying his forces were in Rostov and ready to “go all the way” against the top brass and destroy anyone who stood in their way.

Prigozhin denied that he was trying to stage a military coup.

However, Wager’s boss Prigozhin reached a point of agreement where he would leave Russia and not be prosecuted.

Members of the Wagner group stand guard on a street in the city of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. AFP

Trump also suggested that the US president was “confronting Xi”.

“China and Russia, until Biden came along, have always been natural enemies, with China wanting large chunks of largely unpopulated Russian land for their larger population,” Trump said.

“This is China’s previously unimaginable opportunity to be bigger than Taiwan, to be able to wait for President Xi.”

Members of the Wagner group detain a man in the city of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. AFP

US President Joe Biden, who previously called for regime change in Russia, is reportedly “talking to allies and partners” about the situation in Moscow, according to RT.

2024-Presidential candidate Trump wrote further, quoting the current US President as saying “Biden will do to Russia what President Xi of China wants him to do.”

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