Trump’s rhetoric gets in the way, but there are good reasons for Europe to help in the Gulf, as Ukraine already is. Jorn Fleck & I make the case. x.com/ambdanfried/...
x.com
Dan Fried
@ambdanfried.bsky.social
Veteran diplomat now with the Atlantic Council. America’s values & interests are indivisible, as Lincoln taught us. Believer in a Free World strategy, informed by tactical realism and strategic determination.
Ukrainians have withstood their hardest winter of the #RussiaUkraineWar and are still standing, both willing and able to keep fighting and talking. Amb. Daniel Fried, fresh from his latest visit to Kyiv: www.justsecurity.org/132845/russi...
Russia’s War at Four: Ukraine Keeps Fighting and Keeps Talking
Ukrainians have withstood the Russian onslaught and, thanks to Europe, have managed despite the reduction of U.S. military assistance.
justsecurity.org
“Some wars change the world, and history illuminates how the Russia-Ukraine War might do so.” From Amb. Daniel Fried on the impending 4th anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine: www.justsecurity.org/131874/russi...
Ukraine’s Long War and History’s Lessons for the West
Similarly to World War I, how the U.S. and Europe handle Russia’s long war in Ukraine will shape Europe’s future order and security.
justsecurity.org
The bold (Venezuela), the bad (Greenland) and the constructive (Ukraine) in Trump’s foreign policy moves this first week of 2026. I try to unpack: www.justsecurity.org/128167/trump...
Trump’s New Year Foreign Policy: A Mix of Bold, Bad, Constructive
Trump’s foreign policy remains an inconsistent array of initiatives and adventures including in Latin America, Greenland, and Ukraine.
justsecurity.org
Pres. Trump’s foreign policy, on full display over multiple fronts in the year’s first week, remains an inconsistent array of initiatives and adventures, writes @ambdanfried.bsky.social. Assessing the bold, the bad, and the constructive actions to date: #Venezuela #Greenland #RussiaUkraineWar
Trump’s New Year Foreign Policy: A Mix of Bold, Bad, Constructive
Trump’s foreign policy remains an inconsistent array of initiatives and adventures including in Latin America, Greenland, and Ukraine.
justsecurity.org
The Emancipation Proclamation came into effect on this day, 1863. Lincoln transformed the Civil War from a war of restoration into a war of liberation. The Stars & Stripes became “the flag that makes you free.” Lest we forget.
To end the Russo-Ukraine, the US & Europe will have to push Russia more. The tools - economic and otherwise - are available.
Dan Fried@ambdanfried.bsky.social · 7mo agoThe 20-point plan the US & Ukraine are working could work. That’s why the Kremlin is trying to spike it with accusations that Ukraine is attacking one of Putin’s palaces. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
The 20-point plan the US & Ukraine are working could work. That’s why the Kremlin is trying to spike it with accusations that Ukraine is attacking one of Putin’s palaces. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Trump looks surprisingly close to securing a good Ukraine deal
When Putin balks, Russia should pay the price.
washingtonpost.com
What’s in the new US National Security Strategy. My @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social colleagues & I go through the good (there’s a bit), the bad, and the ugly. www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-at...
Experts react: What Trump’s National Security Strategy means for US foreign policy
Atlantic Council experts delve into the newly released document outlining the Trump administration’s principles and priorities for US foreign policy.
atlanticcouncil.org
Putin stiffed the US peace plan. Here’s how the US should respond: stop negotiating with ourselves and increase the pressure on the Kremlin. time.com/7338224/trum...
Why the U.S.-Russia Ukraine Talks Failed
President Trump is right to push for peace. But his administration are bad at negotiating with Vladimir Putin, writes Daniel Fried.
time.com
Pushing hard for a sustainable deal to end the Russo-Ukraine war is good. Racing to close any deal risks being played. As we see with Steve Witkoff. kyivindependent.com/when-you-wan...
When you want it bad, you get it bad: Steve Witkoff and the US push to end the war
"When you want it bad, you get it bad." That’s how one of my colleagues on the Clinton National Security Council staff described the problem when a U.S. administration chases after an objective so har...
kyivindependent.com
Secretary Rubio is in Geneva to work through the weak plan with key Europeans and the Ukrainians. Good to sort out (& hopefully improve) the plan w/o yet more Russian input. Steep path to that goal, but Rubio has depth on the issues.
Dan Fried@ambdanfried.bsky.social · 9mo agoThe US peace plan for Ukraine is a hot mess. Ukraine is under pressure to accept. But they don’t have to chose between surrender & defiance. Here’s how: www.justsecurity.org/125365/ukrai...
The US peace plan for Ukraine is a hot mess. Ukraine is under pressure to accept. But they don’t have to chose between surrender & defiance. Here’s how: www.justsecurity.org/125365/ukrai...
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Has Options in Response to Latest U.S.-Russian 'Peace Plan'
The plan is a mess, but Ukrainians are right to try to work with the draft rather than reject it out of hand.
justsecurity.org
The draft US-Russia “peace plan” for #Ukraine is a “hot mess,” writes @ambdanfried.bsky.social. But Ukrainian Pres. Zelenskyy is right to try to work with it rather than reject it outright, Fried says, offering some possible negotiating pointers: www.justsecurity.org/125365/ukrai...
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Has Options in Response to Latest U.S.-Russian 'Peace Plan'
The plan is a mess, but Ukrainians are right to try to work with the draft rather than reject it out of hand.
justsecurity.org
President Trump’s shifts on the #RussiaUkraineWar baffle Ukraine and its neighbors concerned about Putin’s aggression toward Europe. @ambdanfried.bsky.social examines lessons from history to “make sense of current turmoil.”
Roosevelt’s Weak Hand and Trump’s Strong One in Eastern and Central Europe: Will Trump Play His Good Cards?
While the president hasn't fully sided with Putin, he hasn't used his favorable strategic position to end Russia's war on Ukraine.
justsecurity.org
Good that JD Vance shows exasperation w/Kremlin stonewalling on Ukraine. Better still if the US acts to increase pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine, which it can. x.com/wartranslate...
x.com
Always read @ambdanfried.bsky.social for nuanced, sober, historically-informed, pragmatic analysis that doesn't skimp on values or justice either. Here's his latest on how the #Russia-Ukraine war could end and, crucially, what security for #Urkaine really means in practice: 👇
Dan Fried@ambdanfried.bsky.social · 12mo agoUS policy is a roller coaster. But after yesterday’s WH meetings, there is a path to greater security for Ukraine, the most critical part of ending Russia’s war of aggression. www.justsecurity.org/119273/trump...
3/3 Link to @ambdanfried.bsky.social's essay at @justsecurity.org Trump, Zelenskyy, European Leaders in White House Meeting: Progress Toward a Deal?
Trump, Zelenskyy, European Leaders in White House Meeting: Progress Toward a Deal?
Getting to any deal between Ukraine & Russia will require the United States & Europe to stand by Ukrainians & stare down Russia's demands.
justsecurity.org
1/3 A revealing twist in the Ukraine diplomacy. On the left: On Tuesday, @ambdanfried.bsky.social anticipated that Witkoff may have missed a deceptive offering by Putin on security guarantees. On the right: On Wednesday, @antongerashchenko.bsky.social identifies the Russian move.
US policy is a roller coaster. But after yesterday’s WH meetings, there is a path to greater security for Ukraine, the most critical part of ending Russia’s war of aggression. www.justsecurity.org/119273/trump...
Trump, Zelenskyy, European Leaders in White House Meeting: Progress Toward a Deal?
Getting to any deal between Ukraine & Russia will require the United States & Europe to stand by Ukrainians & stare down Russia's demands.
justsecurity.org
A new version of realism is establishing itself in Washington. But two models from the past can reveal a better way forward, writes Daniel Fried.
Kissinger, Brzezinski, and the Promise of Realism
A cynical realism resonates today, but there is a model for fusing power and values.
foreignpolicy.com
Trump’s Shift on #Ukraine and #Russia: @ambdanfried.bsky.social and @massdara.bsky.social explain what it means and what to look for, in conversation with Just Security’s @violagienger.bsky.social #RussiaUkraineWar #sanctions www.justsecurity.org/117252/podca...
Trump’s Shift on Ukraine and Russia
Viola Gienger is joined by Ambassador Daniel Fried and Dara Massicot to discuss Trump’s policy shift on Ukraine and its impact.
justsecurity.org
NATO’s Hague Summit Declaration reaffirms Article 5, notes the threat from Russia, commits Allies to 3.5% 1.5% defense spending by 2035, and reaffirms commitment to contribute to Ukraine’s defense. Not glorious but good enough. Sometimes that’s what you need. www.nato.int/cps/en/natoh...
The Hague Summit Declaration issued by NATO Heads of State and Government (2025)
nato.int
The Trump administration often dismisses #HumanRights as a serious factor in #ForeignPolicy. @ambdanfried.bsky.social on history’s lessons about the risks such thinking poses to solidarity and strategic interests: www.justsecurity.org/115191/trump...
Trump's Sidelining of Human Rights in Foreign Policy
Weakening the U.S. commitment to human rights and the tools to advance them undoubtedly will prove costly.
justsecurity.org
Amid pride over recent successful strikes against Russian targets, Ukrainians are realistic about what it will take to end the war – from them, Putin, and President Trump. @ambdanfried.bsky.social reports from his latest trip to Ukraine: www.justsecurity.org/114139/trump... #RussiaUkraineWar
Can Trump Seize a Win in Ukraine?
It’s in Trump’s hands to deliver the logic of force: to rally the West, to back Ukraine, squeeze Russia, and set the stage for victory.
justsecurity.org
WEDNESDAY 12-1pm ET @ambdanfried.bsky.social, Dafna Rand, Michael Schiffer, & @mwhanna.crisisgroup.org discuss the #DOS reorganization, #USAID, and more. Unpack what’s happening, what’s at stake, and what lies ahead with @rcls-nyu.bsky.social Zoom RSVP: www.lawandsecurity.org/calendar/wha...
What’s Next for U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Assistance? - Reiss Center on Law and Security
Register here The State Department has released a reorganization plan that would usher in significant changes to the way the United States conducts its diplomacy and foreign assistance, at a time of...
lawandsecurity.org
The US & Europe were just getting a handle on how to reduce the influence of malign foreign information operations. With the Trump administration’s retreat, can Europe step up more? From @ambdanfried.bsky.social: www.justsecurity.org/113163/is-us...
Is the U.S. Abandoning the Fight Against Foreign Information Operations?
The Trump administration's policy shift paves the way for foreign propaganda to flourish, leaving Europe to step into the breach.
justsecurity.org
What’s Next for U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Assistance? An important discussion with leading experts @ambdanfried.bsky.social Dafna Rand Michael Schiffer @mwhanna.crisisgroup.org Co-hosted with @rcls-nyu.bsky.social Weds May 14 | 12-1pm ET | Zoom #USAID #DOS #diplomacy
What’s Next for U.S. Diplomacy and Foreign Assistance? - Reiss Center on Law and Security
Register here The State Department has released a reorganization plan that would usher in significant changes to the way the United States conducts its diplomacy and foreign assistance, at a time of...
lawandsecurity.org