The question may be, is having this Wagner leader alive so valuable to Putin that he cannot afford to have him killed, even though it makes Putin look weaker?
If yes, why? Does Wagner not function without it’s titular leader and Putin requires a functioning Wagner to fight? At least for now?....
Depends if you have the other conspiracy theory that Wagner is going to strike Kiev from Belarus and this was a feint against internal politics among Putins generals as well.
The whole thing never made any sense as there’s no way his mercenary forces could’ve overtaken Moscow.