Putin facing a long-term problem after attempted siege: Expert

THOUGHT. ASHLEY: YOU ARE RIGHT. THE PLOT THICKENS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A SENIOR RUSSIAN GENERAL WAS REPORTEDLY AWARE OF THE PLANS TO REBEL IN RUSSIA. LEADS TO QUESTIONS OF ALL SORTS, WHAT SORT OF SUPPORT HE MAY HAVE AMONG THOSE CLOSE TO VLADIMIR PUTIN. VICTORIA, HOW MUCH CREDENCE DO YOU GIVE THESE REPORTS AND IS IT MORE SHAKY NOW? >> THE REPORT THAT GENERAL SOROVIKHIN WAS COLLABORATING, HE

WAS THE TOP MILITARY COMMANDER IN UKRAINE, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TIME TO DISCUSS WHAT WAS GOING ON IT IF IT IS TRUE, AND HE CAME OUT AND CONDEMNED WHAT HE WAS DOING PUBLICLY BUT HAD NOT BEEN SEEN IN PUBLIC SINCE SATURDAY WE MIGHT BE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS FATE. THIS INDICATES THE ROCK MAY BE GOING FARTHER THAN THE WAGONER GROUP. ASHLEY: PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A PURGE. VLADIMIR

PUTIN AND HIS CRONIES OR THOSE TRYING TO PLOT THIS REBELLION. WHICH WAY DOES THIS GO? >> Reporter: PUT WANT TO PURGE ANY OF THE CONSPIRATORS OUT OF THE MILITARY. THE PROBLEM HE HAS IS THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY DISRUPTIVE AT A CRITICAL TIME FOR THE WAR IN UKRAINE. DON'T FORGET THE OTHER ACTIVITIES WAGONER AND THE RUSSIAN MILITARY ARE CARRYING OUT IN AFRICA, VENEZUELA AND CUBA,

AROUND THE GLOBE. THIS COULD BE A LONG-TERM PROBLEM FOR HIM AS HE TRIES TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. ASHLEY: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WAGONER FIGHTERS NOW? THEY HAVE BEEN A KEY PART OF THE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE IN UKRAINE. IF THEY GO AWAY DOESN'T THAT LEAVE THE RUSSIAN MILITARY VERY SHORTHANDED? >> IT IS GOING TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM. WAGONER IS THE ONLY ONES, THAT TOWN IN EASTERN UKRAINE, WHICH

WAS A BIG SYMBOLIC VICTORY. AS WE APPROACH DAY 500 OF THIS WAR IF THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING THEY HAVE TO POINT TO END IT WAS DUE TO WAGONER AND THEY ARE GETTING REAL LOVE A LOT OF SENIOR COMMANDERS BECAUSE OF THE COUP ATTEMPT THEY HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE GOING FORWARD. I WOULD PRESS MY ADVANTAGE. ASHLEY: I WANT TO CHANGE SUBJECTS. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU CONFIRMING HE WILL

BE VISITING CHINA LATER THIS YEAR. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT? IT SEEMS OUT OF LEFT FIELD TO ME. WHAT SAY YOU? >> CAN'T BLAME THE ISRAELIS. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY HOSTILE AND DISTANT FROM THE JEWISH STATE SINCE PRESIDENT BIDEN CAME INTO OFFICE MAY LONG LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS THEY'VE DONE BOTH MATERIAL AND SYMBOLIC TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THEY ARE NOT FRIENDLY TOWARD ISRAEL. THE

PRIME MINISTER WHO WANTED TO COME TO WASHINGTON AFTER HE CAME BACK, HAS NOT BEEN OFFERED ANY VISIT, LIKE IT CAME FROM THE PRIME MINISTER MODI LAST WEEK, IT IS CLEAR ISRAEL HAS OTHER FRIENDS. IT'S DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING FOR THOSE OF US WHO SEE TREMENDOUS VALUE IN THIS RELATIONSHIP. YOU CAN'T BLAME TH