And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.

Former US Ambassador Michael McFaul spoke to Ekaterina Kotrikadze at the Munich Security Conference. They discussed the presence of Russian opposition voices at the conference, the possible disconnect between Ukraine and the West on the timeline and resources required for the war, the current Western attitude towards Russia, and the possible scenarios that might lead to the end of the conflict.

Today, the world marks the tragic anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The good news is that Ukraine won the first year of this war. The bad news is that the war continues, with no plans from Russian leader Vladimir Putin to retreat or negotiate. He’s playing a long game, expecting the collective West to eventually lose interest. We cannot allow that to happen. Indeed, it is in America’s interest to stay the course and help Ukraine achieve victory.

For twenty years, the Russian autocrat enjoyed a string of good fortune in coming to power and cementing his rule. He had raised Russia’s standing in the world. Then he invaded Ukraine.