Putin ally praises Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky as a ‘strong and assured leader’

A shut ally of Vladimir Putin has praised Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as a ‘strong and self-assured leader’ who have to not be ‘underestimated’.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, dubbed Putin’s chef’ and the founder of the infamous Wagner mercenary group, also claimed Zelensky was ‘a great man’ – in defiance of the common Kremlin line. 

In a assertion shared on social media by his catering firm, Mr Prigozhin said: ‘Although he is the president of a place hostile to Russia at the moment, Zelensky is a sturdy, assured, pragmatic and great person.’

And requested why he was heaping praise on a person that Moscow has mostly criticised, belittled and attacked since he arrived to power in 2019, he included: ‘To grow to be stronger, to earn, you want to handle the opponent with regard. 

‘Don’t undervalue him. Generally glimpse for flaws in your self, and see what’s very good and significant that can be acquired from the experience of the enemy.’

His remarks are a stark contrast to the characterisation of Zelensky peddled by the Kremlin.

Businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin demonstrates Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin his university lunch manufacturing unit outside Saint Petersburg in September 2010

Prigozhin, dubbed Putin’s chef’ and the founder of the notorious Wagner mercenary group, also reported Zelensky (pictured) was ‘a awesome man’

His remarks are a stark distinction to the characterisation of Zelensky peddled by the Kremlin. Pictured: Vladimir Putin speaks to the media just after his talks with Armenian Primary Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on Monday

When he launched the invasion in February, Putin called on Ukrainian troopers to oust Zelensky from office, stating it would be much easier to offer with generals than the ‘gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis’ currently in electricity. 

Russian state media outlets and social media web pages linked to the Kremlin have also pushed baseless statements that Zelensky is a drug addict. 

In one particular job interview, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov mentioned: ‘He states many items. It relies upon on what he drinks or what he smokes.’

His opinions underline a growing community profile and rising confidence in talking out on sensitive difficulties around the war in Ukraine in defiance of the Kremlin.

It arrives as he has made a series of outspoken interventions in latest weeks, joining with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov in ridiculing the general performance of Russia’s generals in Ukraine.

Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya stated it was attention-grabbing that Prigozhin was voicing a perspective far eliminated from Putin’s – an feeling that others in the ruling elite could not dare to specific. 

She extra: ‘Prigozhin dared. He thinks he has a right and he thinks it would not anger Putin.’

Stanovaya said Prigozhin was not angling for a formal energy job, declaring: ‘I assume that for him it is more like a “business venture” that he wants to “market” to Putin to be nearer tied to the Kremlin.

‘He would keep away from any true formal obligation, it is extra at ease to continue to be in the in-amongst area, between the state and non-official position.’

The remarks arrive right after Mr Prigozhin previous month confirmed for the initial time that he launched the infamous Wagner Team.

Prigozhin filmed recruiting inmates in a single of Russia’s colonies final thirty day period. He has now confirmed for the very first time that he launched the infamous mercenary group

Prigozhin, whose other organization delivers catering solutions to the Kremlin, claimed he started the mercenary device in the course of Russia’s first Ukraine invasion in 2014.

The team has considering that obtained a status for executing the Russian military’s filthy work, leaving a path of brutal violence, rapes and war crimes in its wake.

It is known to have operated on battlefields from Europe to the Center East, South America and Africa.

‘I cleaned the outdated weapons myself, sorted out the bulletproof vests myself and located experts who could assistance me with this,’ Prigozhin mentioned in a statement.

‘From that minute, on May 1, 2014, a team of patriots was born, which afterwards came to be termed the Wagner Battalion. I am proud that I was equipped to defend their suitable to secure the passions of their region.’

Wagner mostly recruits from the regular Russian army, typically getting on these who have been thrown out of its ranks.

Even so, right after struggling large casualties fighting in Ukraine, Prigozhin has begun recruiting from prisons in Russia.