Opinion Pieces | MICHAEL McFAUL

On Substack

Feb 22, 2026

I was US ambassador to Russia. Trump’s recklessness is playing into Putin’s hands

After a year of talks, what is now clear is that President Donald Trump is not committed to negotiating a dignified peace. Instead, he wants an end to the war at whatever cost to Ukraine so that he can claim his coveted Nobel Peace Prize and get on with improving relations with his friend in Moscow.

The I Paper

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April 17, 2024

Goodbye to my fearless friend, Alexei Navalny

March 4, 2024

Michael McFaul on Russian presidential election and Alexei Navalny’s legacy

November 16, 2023

Should we seize Russian funds to pay for the war in Ukraine? Commentators weigh in.

June 20, 2023

The U.S. needs to launch a diplomatic surge on Ukraine

January 24, 2023

Are we seeing the beginning of the end of Putinism?

January 4, 2023

The world can’t allow the ex-president of Georgia to die in detention

External Sources and Consequences of Russia’s ‘Sovereign Democracy"

Nov 18, 2009 New Challenges to Democratization

What Reagan and Shultz Can Teach Us About Talking to Iran

Jul 7, 2008 Democracy Arsenal

Democracy and the Politics of Parliamentary Elections in Iran

Jun 13, 2008 The Brown Journal of World Affairs

A Helsinki Process for the Middle East

Apr 1, 2008 Democracy: A Journal of Ideas

Morocco’s Elections: The Limits of Limited Reforms

Jan 13, 2008 Journal of Democracy

Putin? Really? Time Magazine Gives Vladimir Putin Way Too Much Credit for Russia’s Economic Recovery

Dec 26, 2007 Slate

Time names Putin 'Person of the Year' / But has he really saved Russia?

Dec 26, 2007 San Francisco Chronicle

Small Democratic Step

Dec 13, 2007 The Moscow Times

The Myth of Putin’s Success

Dec 13, 2007 International Herald Tribune

Putin's Plan

Dec 4, 2007 The Wall Street Journal