Michael McFaul

Michael McFaul @McFaul

On this, we disagree. "Moscow" -- aka Putin -- knows very well that Ukraine will not join NATO in his lifetime. He did not need to invade Ukraine to stop expansion. In 2004, there was a revolution in Ukraine (even more dramatic than 2014) & it did NOT lead to NATO expansion. 1/ https://t.co/HYIHsWgx2e — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Of course, US officials state that for the record, just as EU officials stated for decades their support for Turkish membership to the EU & Chinese officials support democracy. The job of the analyst/academic is to help the world distinguish between cheap talk and actual policy. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

After Biden speaks to Putin tomorrow, he should call Zelensky on Wednesday. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

You don't get many friends in life who you also deeply admire for their intelligence, convictions, and love. For thirty years, Fred Hiatt was one of those very special people in my life. Such a sad sad day. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Agreed. Such horrible news. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

False. The US and NATO did not encourage a violent overthrow of the Yanukovich government. They were working hard to resolve that crisis peacefully, including right up to the day Yanu fled. See the 2/21/2014 agreement between the govt and the opposition. #FactsMatter. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @yanevskyy: «Судьба Украины не должна решаться без присутствия украинцев на переговорах». — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @McFaul: In my 5 years in the US government (2009-2014), NATO expansion to Ukraine was a non-issue in U.S.-Russia relations & U.S.-Ukrai… — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

How to understand Putin's intentions. My short thread: — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @HooverInst: How should the US respond to the massive Russian military force that President Vladimir Putin has assembled on Ukraine’s bo… — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @McFaul: This! That is a Russian president signing a security agreement for Ukraine. So Ukrainians have a right to be skeptical of futur… — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

"Russia was not destined to return to a confrontational relationship with the United States or the West because of the balance of power in the international system or historical and cultural determinants. Rather, President Putin chose this path." https://t.co/o5pnv9s04v — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @KoriSchake: Smart take on Putin's intentions from @McFaul --> — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

For the details, see Putin, Putinism, and the Domestic Determinants of Russian Foreign Policy | International Security | MIT Press https://t.co/RIl1uxnSZ2 — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Putin is an ideologue. He is motivated by the rational pursuit of materials interests sometimes ... and sometimes not. He sees his mission in life in much grander, normative, ideological terms. That's what makes him unpredictable and stary. 1/ — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Putin clearly does not want a stable and predictable relationship with Biden. He considers the United States to be Russia’s greatest enemy...With such a country, as Putin sees it, there can never be stable, predictable cooperation, only perpetual conflict. https://t.co/scK6G0z1wB — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

My latest with @O__Honcharuk : The best response to Russia’s threats is a closer relationship with Ukraine https://t.co/scK6G0z1wB — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Biden turns to spy chief for tricky diplomatic missions https://t.co/rwbj2tB0FY — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

If answering honestly, I don’t know what Putin’s plan is, and don’t believe anyone who claims to know. Not sure if Putin even knows yet. If pressed to guess, I share @Kateryna_Kruk take: — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

wow. грустно. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Bonus thread add -- if you want to read the details of this history, check out FROM COLD WAR TO HOT PEACE. It's all in there. https://t.co/rxksoWaph4 — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Putin wants you to believe otherwise. Some of his crazy propaganda channels are even warning of a Ukrainian attack on Russia! But let's restate the obvious; Putin has completely invented these threats, which he of course does not believe. 7/ END THREAD — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Since the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine, support not surprisingly for joining NATO has risen among Ukrainians. But the NATO alliance has remained lukewarm to the idea. A MAP has not even been started. 6/ — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Putin revived the NATO expansion threat after annexing Crimea and invading eastern Ukraine in 2014. I understand why. If I worked for him, I'd recommend pushing the same propaganda line. But for everyone else, let's be clear about the timeline & sequence of events. 5/ — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Between 2009-2014, the Ukrainian government also was not pressing for NATO membership. Yushchenko was not pushing. Yanukovich was firmly against. Societal support was weak & focused more on joining the EU. 4/ — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

While attending Obama, Biden, Clinton, Lavrov, Donilon, etc. meetings with Putin/Medvedev/Lavrov, and listening in on nearly every phone call between Obama and Russians for 5 years, I cannot recall a serious contentious exchange about NATO expansion. 3/ — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

In 2010, Medvedev even attended the NATO summit in Lisbon. He said, "The meeting… was historic in terms of its spirit and atmosphere." (I was there; he was thrilled to be at the meeting.) 2/ — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

In my 5 years in the US government (2009-2014), NATO expansion to Ukraine was a non-issue in U.S.-Russia relations & U.S.-Ukraine relations. 1/ THREAD — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @HenryJFoy: EU and NATO states swing behind US belief that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine after unprecedented level of intelligen… — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Butte, America! Love that place. — PolitiTweet.org