BATTLE OF THE WARLORDS: Prigozhin Mocks U.S.’s Nuland Over Niger
Victoria “Fuck the EU” Nuland is playing a key role in the U.S.’s response to the current crisis in Ukraine despite orchestrating the overthrow of a democratically elected president in Ukraine
Evgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, mocked Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland after she warned Niger’s coup leaders against working with his private military company.
“I am proud of the boys from Wagner,” Prigozhin told reporters, according to RT. “Just the thought of them makes ISIS and Al Qaeda small, obedient, silky boys. And the US has recognized a government that it did not recognize yesterday just to avoid meeting the Wagner PMC in the country. This brings joy, Mrs. Nuland.”
Nuland, who was a major player in the U.S.-backed coup in Ukraine, was asked about the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum’s government. The coup was fueled by the country’s desire to break from from French and U.S. influence. Washington sees a major risk that Russia may extend its reach in West Africa.
Pro-junta protesters took to the streets in Niger’s capital city, Niamey, waving Russian flags earlier this month and chanted “Putin” just days after soldiers in the country ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, a major ally of the U.S. who was elected in 2021.
She said the U.S. is willing to help Niger return to “constitutional order.”
“We understand our legal responsibilities and I explained those very clearly to the guys who were responsible for this and that it is not our desire to go there, but they may push us to that point, and we asked them to be prudent in that regard and to hear our offer to try to work with them to solve this diplomatically and return to constitutional order. That’s all I can say at this point,” she said. “With regard to Wagner, you will have seen some boasting by Prigozhin in St. Petersburg. I will say that I got the sense in my meetings today that the people who have taken this action here understand very well the risks to their sovereignty when Wagner is invited in.”
She cut off the press conference after that comment.