"Putin's Weakening Power: The Wagner Group Standoff and Post-Putin Russia"

Russian President Vladimir Putin's authority appeared to be weakening as rebel mercenaries advanced on Moscow, but a surprising reversal occurred when Putin allowed the leader of the mutiny, Yevgeny Prigozhin, to take exile in Belarus. While Putin's hold on power may seem weakened, experts caution against counting him out, as he has survived tough challenges before. The details of the standoff with Prigozhin remain unclear, but Putin's intelligence services apparently failed to warn him of the plot. Putin is now focused on conveying stability and normalcy, launching a charm offensive and downplaying the mutiny. Meanwhile, the war against Ukraine continues unabated, with no discernible effect from the Moscow turmoil. While Putin may be more vulnerable than before, it is important to keep pressure on him and support Ukraine.