Scholz-We Are Not Aiming For Regime Change In Russia

Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been delivering doorstep comments ahead of today's European Council summit in Brussels. Livestream of doorstep interviews can be found here.

• Politico's Hans von der Burchard: "Olaf Scholz at EU summit: Continued support of Ukraine needed; war "can last long time"— Wagner mutiny showed "it's simply irresponsible to place military force in private hands."— Wagner committed "irresponsible & unforgivable" actions & "many crimes" in Ukraine, Africa etc. Scholz further: We're not aiming for regime change in Russia. "We are not party to what is happening in Russia," the chancellor said. "This is a problem that Putin has brought on himself ... Our goal here is not a regime change in Russia. Our goal is an independent Ukraine."
• Comes as the Kremlin continues to try to promote an image of President Vladimir Putin's stability in the wake of the Wagner mutiny. Kremlin spox Dmitri Peskov stated earlier today that he had no information on the whereabouts of Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin (he is in Belarus) and when questioned about General Sergei Surovikin (who is alleged to have tacitly supported the mutiny) he advised reporters to contact the Ministry of Defence.