Putin says he tried but failed to oust Prigozhin after Wagner mutiny

I am still super confused, why would he even say that?

The lead is buried in the article
During the meeting, Putin said he offered Prigozhin the option to allow Wagner fighters to continue to serve in Ukraine under the leadership of their battlefield commander, Andrey Trochev.
“All of them could gather in one place and continue to serve,” Putin told Kolesnikov, who has covered the Kremlin leader for several decades. “And nothing would change for them. They would be led by the same person who had been their actual commander this entire time.”
The offer met with some support from the Wagner commanders, Putin said. “A lot of them nodded their heads when I said this. But Prigozhin, who was sitting in front of them and didn’t see [their reaction], said: ‘No, the guys won’t agree with that decision.’”
The interview appears to be part of a broader effort by the Kremlin to win the loyalty of the Wagner rank and file, even while seeking to discredit Prigozhin by leaking sensitive and embarrassing information about him.
During the interview, Putin also said Wagner did not exist, citing Russian legislation outlawing private military companies and putting its future in doubt.
Dara Massicot, a senior policy researcher at Rand, a US thinktank, who specialises in Russian military strategy, said Putin’s version of events signalled he could outlaw Wagner at any moment while seeking to drive a wedge between Prigozhin and his fighters.
emphasis mine. Now it is kinda a show of weakness. He is having to court the fighters, instead being confident in their loyalty to simple order. However after that explanation it makes sense, more than the headline would first give reason to. Plus finally of course... trust zero on the truthfulness to any Kremlin statements information. However what is truthful, they are trying to achieve something with the statement, even if they would be lying through their teeth. There was a reason for the messaging.
honestly Guardian should have lead with title or at least first lead message of "Putin is trying to drive wedge between Prigozhin and Wagner, new interview shows" or something like that.
- During the interview, Putin also said Wagner did not exist, citing Russian legislation outlawing private military companies and putting its future in doubt.
  The doublethink is truly working double time.
- So close. The word you’re looking for is “lede”.
- It rather sounds like he needs Wagner and they have no idea what they’re doing.
  Ironically, they’re mercenaries. Just offer them more than their current boss. (Not sure how much more, but everyone has their price and i doubt mercs are the most loyal. Though I also doubt they’re very eager to work with some one who tried to bomb them…)
- When Wagner took over rostov-on-don they were greeted as heroes because of the propaganda. They played themselves and are struggling to figure out how to spin this.
  I've skimmed Russian history from around 1900s and find it fascinating how shit always gets worse

not taking prigozhin out makes putin look weak to his core demographic, surely this will have no wide ranging consequences

This is what I don't get. Surely he values the mercenaries to fight, but the whole situation makes him look weak. Isn't that bad long term? What's the endgame here?
- No endgame, just survive one day at a time.
Weak to his core demographic, but if he wants Wagner to fight then assassinating the head of Wagner would be a horrible idea.

Looks like their propaganda is in damage control mode. Desperately trying to adjust their narratives to make it look like "Pu is working on it". Which just makes it more apparent that he has less and less control lol.

Surely there has to be more going on here. Prigozhin turning around, exile to Belarus, and now this doesn't make sense with what's been publicly reported.

There is no way Putin can make this look like anything but weakness.

Wow, looks like he losing control

What is this? Russian Seinfeld?

Waltuh

Putin better be looking over his shoulder from now on. The next 'Night of the Long Knives' is coming his way!