Putin is an intelligence operative, it does not seems unlikely that a country headed by one for decades would do well clandestine operations and falter in war.

American oligarchs are also greedy, base and overall pretty stupid so I think you overestimate the challenge of manipulating them.

I’ve had mental health professionals use that non-apology and insist it must suffice and absolution is owed, I do not think it is going away anytime soon.