US to delay new sanctions against Wagner Group

Washington plans to delay imposing new sanctions against PMC Wagner for fear of appearing to side with the Russian President, The Wall Street Journal reported.

"Washington does not want to appear to be taking sides in this," WSJ cited a close source as saying.

The sources said the State Department was expected to disclose additional sanctions Tuesday against Wagner's gold business in Africa, including an alleged mining operation run by the private military company in the Central African Republic.

Washington had previously sanctioned the group for its alleged role in disinformation during the 2016 US presidential election, which was never proven, as well as for engaging in hostilities in Ukraine.

Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has apparently made peace with the country's leadership, with the Kremlin dropping the criminal case against him and his mercenaries, allowing Prigozhin to "go to Belarus," according to Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

Given that, the White House will probably still sanction Wagner 😁