Vladimir Putin has warned “any blackmail is doomed for failure” – days after an attempted rebellion led by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The Russian president was speaking from the Kremlin – and vowed that those involved in the weekend’s “criminal activity” will be brought to justice.

Putin went on to claim that “neo-Nazis in Kyiv and the West” had wanted Russian soldiers to kill each other.

Earlier on Monday, Prigozhin revealed he ordered his fighters to halt their advance on Moscow because he “did not want to shed Russian blood”.

Reaction to Putin’s statement – live updates

Now reportedly in Belarus, the mercenary chief also insisted that many Russian civilians were very supportive of Wagner’s “march for justice” – and some were disappointed when it stopped.

A top White House official has denied that the US had any involvement in Saturday’s rebellion – and said it had “good, direct communication with the Russians over the weekend”.