Speaking at a lecture in England, Burns, who previously served as the US ambassador to Moscow, noted that Prigozhin's actions were preceded by a scathing indictment of the Kremlin's rationale for the invasion of Ukraine and the conduct of the Russian military leadership in the war.
Burns emphasized that the repercussions of these words and actions will continue to unfold, serving as a stark reminder of the detrimental effect of Putin's war on Russian society and his regime.
While Burns characterized the rebellion as an "armed challenge to the Russian state," he made it clear that it is an internal matter for Russia in which the United States has no involvement.
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Burns recently made a secret visit to Ukraine, where he was briefed by Ukrainian officials on their plan to end the war and reclaim Moscow-occupied territory by the end of the year.
During his visit, Burns held meetings with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top Ukrainian intelligence officials.
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The visit took place shortly before Prigozhin's failed rebellion, according to an anonymous official familiar with the matter.
The official also revealed that Burns has been making regular visits to Ukraine since Russia's invasion, demonstrating the Biden administration's commitment to sharing intelligence and supporting Ukraine in the conflict.
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While Ukrainian officials have expressed frustration with the slow progress of the counteroffensive launched in June, military leaders in Kyiv reportedly expressed confidence to Burns in private that they can retake Russian-controlled territory by the fall.
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These officials also believe they can position artillery and missile systems near the border of Moscow-controlled Crimea, expand further into eastern Ukraine, and initiate peace talks with Russia for the first time since the breakdown of cease-fire discussions in March 2022.
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According to sources familiar with the plan, Ukraine could potentially hold the Crimean peninsula, home to Russia's prized Black Sea military fleet, as leverage while refraining from taking the territory by force.
This strategy would allow Ukraine to demand that Russia accept any security agreements it secures from the West. A senior Ukrainian official stated that Russia will only be willing to negotiate if it feels threatened.
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