PRESIDENT Yeltsin goes into tomorrow's summit with President Clinton looking firmly in control in Russia, following a government shake-up which has completed his unexpected political comeback.
Doubts remain over the Kremlin leader's long-term health and ability to carry out the bold reforms heralded by Monday's unveiling of the most far-reaching cabinet changes since 1991. A relapse at any time cannot be ruled out.
But a string of table-thumping rebukes for his ministers, some fiery defence of Russia's interests on the world stage, and his clear physical improvement after illness project an image of strength unimaginable only a few weeks ago.
"This is again the very Yeltsin who decisively began reforms in Russia," a presidential ally, Mr Alexander Livshits, said, despite losing his post as deputy prime minister and finance minister.
Many independent observers would hesitate to compare the much thinner Mr Yeltsin (66) of today with the vigorous leader who launched economic reforms after becoming president in 1991.
But with immaculate timing before the Helsinki summit, at which Mr Yeltsin wants to prove he is well and firmly back at the helm, the president has reasserted his authority much more quickly and firmly than seemed likely a few weeks ago.
"Yeltsin looks stronger by the day. Barring emergencies, he could survive politically until the end of his term (in the year 2000)," said Dr Andrei Piontkowski, head of the independent Centre for Strategic Studies think-tank.
Mr Yeltsin's tactics have been straightforward. He has seized every opportunity to look tough and show who is boss.
He pulled no punches in a state-of-the-nation speech on March 6th, saying openly that the country was in a dreadful mess but resolutely pledging to end the chaos.
He has toughened resistance to NATO's eastward expansion plans, showing communist and nationalist foes he is not about to give in to the West.
Monday's shuffle was the culmination of his comeback. He brought in liberal reformers at the expense of relative conservatives and signalled the start of a major new drive for economic change.
"Yeltsin now portrays the image of a strong politician. At the summit he will say he is defending Russian interests while not letting the world slide into a second Cold War," Dr Piontkowski said.
"The West and Clinton will help Yeltsin because they want to support him, seeing no alternative to him."
Despite Mr Yeltsin's recovery, many questions remain about his health and political will. "There will be worries again when Yeltsin goes on vacation and any time he falls ill," one Western diplomat said.