Michael McFaul

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @AlexGabuev: “Mr. Putin has nothing to fear from Mr. Biden. Enduringly popular and freshly buoyed by the quashing of the opposition, Rus… — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @ForeignAffairs: Read @McFaul on how, after Geneva, the Biden administration should develop its strategy for containing and deterring Ru… — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Trump of course produced the disaster at that presser. But Putin lied to the world about Russian interference in our 2016 election and accused Browder of crimes he did not commit. What US national interest is served by another exchange like that even with Biden pushing back? — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Very fair point. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Very striking. Unfortunately Karen Donfried has not been confirmed yet. She should be here. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Hah! — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @hickspeggy: Aside from astute political analysis from @McFaul, noting that Victoria Nuland is the only woman on the 13 person list. Wit… — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @McFaul: I have some thoughts on this line up and the smaller meeting. THREAD 1/ — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Biden passing by us, on his way to his meeting with Putin https://t.co/2JZAReGFJJ — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Sorry for typos . Doing on the fly from a tv studio I’m Geneva — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Nulands presences is tp signal to Russians and rest of USG that she will be too Biden official in charge of Russia (Campbell at NSC has point on China). Ok, end of my Kremlinology! Comments welcome END THREAD. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

9th, on US side , not as much signaling. The delegations are not symmetric. That’s unusual. Biggest signal in US delegation is Nuland. It’s unusual but not unheard of tp have the Secretary and Undersecretary at same meeting. But US doesn’t have confirmed Assistant Secy yet — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

8th, Antonov is there. Ambassadors don’t usually attend meetings in 3ed countries, but he & ambassador Sullivan are in Geneva because they are both going back to work in their respective embassies. That’s the signal at least. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Seventh, Patrushev is NOT there. That is striking since he met with Jake Sullivan to prep this meeting. General Patrushev is a hardliner on US. Is his absence a signal that Putin wants a cordial@meeting? — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Sixth, Ryabkov is there. He’s point at MFA for relations with US. Extremely capable diplomat. Good sign. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Fifth, Lavrentiev is there, their point on Syria. That’s a good sign. Maybe they’ll get an agreement to extend humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people? Wonder if McGurk Will be a late addition to US side? — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Fourth, Kozak is there, again very unusual. He also is close to Putin personally; a@bigger figure than his formal title suggests. There for the Ukraine discussion? — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Third, Peskov is there. Western observers frequently mistaken him as a “press secretary “. He is much more than that to Putin. He’s one of Putins closest advisors. I’ll bet he wants to replace Lavrov someday — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Second, striking that General Gerasimov is there. That is highly unusual. His US counterpart is not. That signals to me that strategic stability talks are at top of agenda. And don’t forget, Antonov was chief negotiator of New START treaty. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

First, that Lavrov is in the small meeting and not Ushakov is interesting. In the past, Ushakov was always there. Also not standard protocol for the Secretary of State to be the +1, but Blinken has a special relationship with Biden. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

I have some thoughts on this line up and the smaller meeting. THREAD 1/ — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @McFaul: Dont be surprised if Putin expresses support for normalized relations with the US today. After annexing Crimea, supporting Assa… — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @WatchingWhatYou: . As usual, perfect assessment and insights by @McFaul on the meeting with Putin. #MorningJoe — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

In Helsinki in 2018 at his presser with Trump, Putin did not tell the truth and played whataboutism. So why give him a platform next to Biden to possibly do the same here in Geneva? Parallel pressers, not a joint one, is the right move. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

This list is very interesting on both sides. I’ll give my Kremlinological take right after @Morning_Joe . — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

I’ll be a part of this. Tune in! — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Dont be surprised if Putin expresses support for normalized relations with the US today. After annexing Crimea, supporting Assad, meddling in US elections, trying to assassinate Skripal, etc, to then have Biden embrace normalized relations would be a huge victory for Putin. — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

@feddy60 @MSNBC @NBCNews I did that last night and will do so again tonight! — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

RT @lionelbarber: The essential thread ahead of Biden-Putin. Note the disciplined US approach compared to Trump’s — PolitiTweet.org

Michael McFaul @McFaul

Great photo! Thanks for posting. (And yes, my dear colleague for 30 years, George Shultz, is there. I also know our translator and of course Mikhail Sergeyevich. — PolitiTweet.org