Impolitic with John Heilemann Michael McFaul: Trump’s Red Carpet & Putin’s Middle Finger
Aug 22, 2025
Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and senior fellow at Stanford, shares his insights on the recent whirlwind of diplomatic events relating to Ukraine. He examines the stark contrast between Trump's opulent meeting with Putin and Zelensky's important visit to the White House with European leaders. McFaul emphasizes the unchanged war aims of Putin and the dire situation Zelensky faces if negotiations fail. He also discusses the complexities of U.S.-Russia relations, the credibility of ceasefire talks, and the enduring geopolitical dynamics at play.
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Symbolic Deference Undermines Leverage
- Rolling out symbolic deference to autocrats weakens U.S. leverage in negotiations.
- McFaul warns Trump needn't pretend friendship or check American values at the door.
Alaska Summit Produced No Deliverables
- Alaska produced no concrete deliverables and may have been worse than a non-event.
- McFaul says there was no tangible outcome from the summit despite early optimistic rhetoric.
Rapid European Rally Around Zelensky
- European leaders' quick Washington visit likely sought to blunt harmful Alaska optics and broaden the agenda.
- McFaul suggests Zelensky pushed for the visit to prevent Trump from being swayed by Putin's talking points.
