For more than a year, American officials have quietly asked themselves a question they would not dare pose in public: Could Russia’s botched invasion of Ukraine eventually lead to the downfall of President Vladimir V. Putin? For a few chaotic, head-snapping hours this weekend, the notion did not seem so far-fetched. But even with the apparent end to the immediate threat posed by Yevgeny Prigozhin’s rebellious mercenary army, the short-lived uprising suggested that Mr. Putin’s hold on power is more tenuous than at any time since he took office more than two decades ago. The aftermath of the mutiny leaves President Biden and American policymakers with both opportunity and danger in perhaps the most volatile moment since the early days of the invasion of Ukraine. “The main thing we care about is making sure that professional military remains in control of all of the nuclear facilities.”

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Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s, Putin’s, Biden, ”, Evelyn N, Farkas Organizations: McCain Institute for International Leadership, Pentagon Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Washington, Syria