In a new interview with the state-controlled Russian newspaper, Vladimir Putin says the
private mercenary group Wagner group does not exist.
That's a quote.
He was referring to the legality of the Wagner group as he described a meeting with a senior
fighters and Wegner boss yevgeny prigozhin . The Kremlin says that meeting happened five
days after he led that failed rebellion against the military.
The article details how president Putin is putting a wedge between yevgeny prigozhin
and thousands of fighters.
Alex, you are there.
What are you learning about this interesting development we are hearing from president
Putin in that media article?
>> Reporter: It is interesting.
[9:19:15 AM]
>> Reporter: It is interesting.
It appears that he's making two points.
One, legally there are no mercenary groups allowed in Russia and the other that he's
not operating in Ukraine and we heard the from the Pentagon last night.
What form -- what form he takes beyond Ukraine is a question.
They have operations in Africa and the Middle East and the fate of their leader yevgeny
prigozhin.
That's in the balance.
Here's more what president Putin told the newspaper.
We do not have a law for private military organizations he said.
It does not exist.
There's no such legal entity.
He admits that it is not an easy question.
He gave interesting details about that meeting five days after that mutiny.
He met with 35 commanders at the Kremlin.
Yevgeny prigozhin was there and she said to the commanders you can join them Russian military
keep fighting to your current commander and continue to stay
[9:20:16 AM]
commander and continue to stay in this fight.
The men are not in agreement with yevgeny prigozhin . He said the guys do not agree
with this decision.
We don't know from this article how this ended.
It does appear that president Putin is trying to divide and weaken yevgeny prigozhin while
maintaining the Wegner fighters who are a significant fighting force.
>> It's very interesting to see where those thousands of paid fighters go.
You work the news yesterday.
These controversial U.S. Applied cluster munitions are in Ukraine.
Spoke to a general who said that's what happened.
What more do you know along those lines?
Are they being used yet?
>> Reporter: Let me answer your last question.
Those Wegner fighters are still in Russia occupied Ukraine.
As for the cluster munitions, the general told me they have
[9:21:17 AM]
the general told me they have not been used.
The Pentagon did confirm our reporting from this general that these U.S. Highly controversial
cluster munitions are in Ukraine ready to be used.
The Pentagon said there is a third country that had provided cluster munitions.
We understand that country is Turkey.
Ukraine and Russia have both previously used cluster munitions during this conflict.
How did these American cluster munitions get to Ukraine so quickly?
They had been pre-position in Europe.
The question is when will they first be used and a U.S. Official told me they decided the
Russians will be the first to know.
>> Thank you, Alex.
>>> Let's get to this and more.
Joining us now is the corner for strategic communications at the national security council
at the white house.
John Kirby.
I want to start with Ukraine.
It's all wrapped up in an important thing that happened overnight.
Republicans passing several controversial amendments to the national defense authorization
act.
[9:22:17 AM]
act.
This massive defense bill now in question.
What is the message of the commander in chief on what happened overnight?
>> He looks forward to having the and daa on his desk and get our troops and military
well- funded and well resourced for the missions they are taking on around the world.
We are waiting to see what that legislation looks like when he gets to his desk.
We've seen what the house Republicans have tried to do to it.
The president believes the national defense authorization act should be focused on making
sure our troops have the training and tools and capabilities they need to defend this
country all around the world.
That's where he wants the focus to be.
I will not get debating these amendments.
I want to make this point.
He believes that diversity and inclusion and equity in the
[9:23:18 AM]
inclusion and equity in the United States military is important.
We represent and defend all of the United States.
All Americans.
He believes that female servicemembers and female family members of service members should
be able to get the reproductive care they need.
If there station in a state where it's not available because of state law and he fully
supports the Pentagon's policy of providing leave and travel allowances for those folks
to get the reproductive care they need.
One in five servicemembers are women and it's important we listen to their needs and take
care of them appropriately.
>> Those provisions were passed.
Those were three of the amendments passed overnight.
And will be on the final version of the bill the house needs to vote on.
Does the president want Democrats to vote against the ndaa as you see it today in the
house?
>> Reporter: I will not speak for the voting inclinations.
[9:24:23 AM]
for the voting inclinations.
I will not get ahead of the legislative process.
>> I understand that but the president would need to sign this into law.
If the bill as we saw with the amendments coming out of the house overnight would be
the version to come to his desk, would he veto it?
>> Reporter: It's hypothetical.
There's a long way to go before this legislation gets to his desk.
>> Do you see the president sign a national defense authorization act that limits transgender
rights, that rips out diversity training and does exactly the opposite of what you said
the president supports when it comes to access to reproductive rights.
>> Reporter: It is difficult to see the present supporting legislation that would make it
harder for Americans to serve in uniform and not be able to do so with dignity, not do
so with the proper care they need.
It's difficult to see the president would ever sign
[9:25:29 AM]
president would ever sign legislation that would put our troops at greater risk or readiness
at greater risk.
>> This is put the administration in a tough position having to explain why Democrats would
vote against pay raises for the military and future investment in infrastructure which
is a big part of what the ndaa is.
>> The president is confident he will not sign legislation that will not affect our
military readiness in a negative way or affect our people.
He will leave it to members of congress to decide how they will vote.
He's not going to support amendments, not support legislation that will put our readiness
or troops in greater risk.
>> Turning our focus overseas to Ukraine and Russia's war in Ukraine.
Just yesterday, a Pentagon spokesperson told reporters that Wegner forces and the way he
put it were no longer contributing as a significant combat capability in Ukraine.
What do you make and what does
[9:26:30 AM]
What do you make and what does the white house administration and the president make the
fact the yevgeny prigozhin forces are not in the fight.
Do you assess or think they will return to the fight?
>> Reporter: We don't know.
We don't know what the future of Wegner will be whether it's in Ukraine or anywhere else
around the world.
We know they are conducting malicious activities in Africa and a few weeks ago we launched
more senses on their group and folks supporting them.
We don't know what the future of the group will be.
It's very OPEC.
What is not OPEC and what we do know is the Russians still have a significant amount of
forces in Ukraine on defense all along from bakhmut to different areas and there is fighting
going on.
We are focused on making sure
[9:27:33 AM]
We are focused on making sure Ukraine has what they need to be successful.
>> Real quick.
One other topic that came up when the president was taking questions from reporters overseas
yesterday as he was wrapping up his nato trip and his meetings in Finland.
The president called senator Tommy Tupper bills hold on military promotions calling
them irresponsible.
After that, he and secretary Austin did hold a call.
Have you worked this thing out yet?
>> Reporter: I don't believe there's been a solution.
No.
It's good the secretary of defense and the senator had a chance to talk.
They are still having an effect on military readiness and the lives and livelihoods of
hundreds of military families here.
This blanket hold needs to end and end immediately.
>> Do you think the president sitting down with him could
[9:28:34 AM]
sitting down with him could change that?
>> Reporter: That will be up to the senator.
If the president thought the meeting between the two of them would break this and have
useful impact on him dropping his hold, he would consider doing that.
I don't know if we are at that point.
We don't need to be at that point.
It should not take a meeting with the president and should