He considers the Wagner Group to be a highly effective, elite unit that is better trained and equipped than the regular Russian military.

“This is an elite unit. They're much better trained, much more disciplined, much better equipped than the regular Russian army.”

The leader of the Wagner Group is effectively running military operations but is creating instability for Vladimir Putin by publicly criticizing the conduct of the Russian generals.

“I don't listen I've never met the guy I don't know but he strikes me as somebody who is very very good at using profile I mean he feels like you I think most people following this would think he's kind of running the show militarily and yet he's recently been standing in front of lots of dead bodies”