German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday that the European Union and the German government are not aiming to change the regime in Russia and that they were not involved in the attempted rebellion by the private military company Wagner Group. Instead, Germany's goal is an independent Ukraine, he said, warning the war can still "last a long time."
"This is a problem Putin has brought on himself," Scholz said ahead of a European Council meeting, adding that the mutiny showed that it is "irresponsible to put military force in private hands." He also accused Wagner of committing crimes and "unforgivable" actions in Ukraine, but also in conflicts in Africa.