Foreign Policy Live Will Trump Shift the Balance in Ukraine?
Jul 30, 2025
Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and Stanford professor, delves into the complexities of Trump’s evolving stance on Ukraine. He discusses how Trump's policies could alter U.S. support amid the ongoing conflict and impact global oil prices and inflation. McFaul examines the implications of sanctions and challenges facing President Zelensky's leadership. He also explores the resilience of Ukrainian civil society and strategies for U.S. involvement, emphasizing the importance of democracy as a weapon in this geopolitical struggle.
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Trump's Failed Ukraine Strategy
- Trump's initial strategy was to appease Putin and pressure Ukraine for concessions, but it failed to achieve peace.
- Putin kept demanding more, leading Trump to realize this approach left him appearing weak.
Complexity of Sanctioning Russia's Partners
- Trump's threat to sanction China and India for buying Russian oil is a complex move with global repercussions.
- Applying such sanctions risks harming U.S. relations and may not pressure Putin effectively.
Trump and Putin's Ideological Overlap
- Trump is not a Russian asset but shares ideological similarities with Putin rooted in illiberal nationalism.
- Both reject democracy and multilateralism, favoring might and cultural nationalism, creating ideological overlap.