What is a wounded bear to do? Good luck deducing Vladimir Putin’s next move he makes a return to the public eye in the wake of Saturday's aborted march on Moscow by Yevgeny Prigozhin's irregulars. What are the true intentions of the master of the Kremlin? With Belarus's president now claiming that he is hosting the Wagner Group mercenaries' boss, we ask what the real deal is and what it means for Ukraine, whose leader has made a point of staying in the public eye.
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fraternised on the frontlines with troops who appear to be ignoring the infighting over the border. But Kyiv is cautious: Russia could well try to change the conversation with carpet bombing or worse. How much more pain can Putin inflict?
More broadly, what is the long view for both countries after what will soon be a decade of fighting? Do old models from the days of the czars and the Soviets still apply in the age of Telegram and private militias?
Produced by Charles Wente, Juliette Laurain and Imen Mellaz.
