Michael McFaul
@mcfaulmike.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science, Director of Freeman Spogli Institute & Hoover Senior Fellow all at Stanford University. U.S. Ambassador to Russia, 2012-2014.
Want to know more about Ukraine's deep-strike campaign? Check out my conversation with the Catarina Buchatskiy director of analytics at one of Ukraine's leading defense and security think tanks. michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/the-drone-...
The Drone Revolution: How Ukraine Is Changing Modern Warfare (video)
A conversation with Caterina Buchatskiy, Director of Analytics at the Snake Island Institute, one of Ukraine's leading defense and security think tanks.
michaelmcfaul.substack.com
A reminder: when Zelenskyy offered to share Ukraine’s anti-drone expertise with the US back in March, Trump said he was “the last person we need help from”. Trumps assessment was arrogant and naïve. Ukrainian companies are world leaders in drone production and innovation.
From the (recent) archive: "What the U.S. and the Free World Could Learn from Ukraine on Drone Warfare" This learning and cooperation should have started years ago, but it's better late than never. michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/what-the-u...
A reminder: when Zelenskyy offered to share Ukraine’s anti-drone expertise with the US back in March, Trump said he was “the last person we need help from”. Trumps assessment was arrogant and naïve. Ukrainian companies are world leaders in drone production and innovation.
Want to know more about Ukraine's deep-strike campaign? Check out my conversation with the Catarina Buchatskiy director of analytics at one of Ukraine's leading defense and security think tanks. michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/the-drone-...
The Drone Revolution: How Ukraine Is Changing Modern Warfare (video)
A conversation with Caterina Buchatskiy, Director of Analytics at the Snake Island Institute, one of Ukraine's leading defense and security think tanks.
michaelmcfaul.substack.com
NATO. Iran. Ukraine. China. In my July newsletter, I look back at some of the events, arguments, and conversations that shaped my month. michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/july-2026-...
July 2026: Reflections on Europe, NATO, China, and Iran
From Europe’s security to China’s global ambitions, the key conversations and lessons that shaped my month.
michaelmcfaul.substack.com
NATO. Iran. Ukraine. China. In my July newsletter, I look back at some of the events, arguments, and conversations that shaped my month. michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/july-2026-...
July 2026: Reflections on Europe, NATO, China, and Iran
From Europe’s security to China’s global ambitions, the key conversations and lessons that shaped my month.
michaelmcfaul.substack.com
Imagine if we started buying way more drones and way fewer tanks? We could enhance our security for a lot less money. Win-Win!
"Cheerleading for democracy, McFaul draws packed house" Great write-up from my recent event with Aspen Institute! www.aspendailynews.com/news/cheerle...
Cheerleading for democracy, McFaul draws packed house
Aspen Institute community programs continue through Aug. 11
aspendailynews.com
Putin’s brutal war is a vanity project. He doesn’t care about Ukrainians, but he doesn't care about his own citizens either. This war ends when we strengthen Ukraine on the battlefield, tighten sanctions to starve Russia's war machine & force Moscow to negotiate on equal terms.
My July newsletter is out now! From Europe’s security to China’s global ambitions, check out the key conversations and lessons that shaped my month. Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/michaelm...
July 2026: Reflections on Europe, NATO, China, and Iran
From Europe’s security to China’s global ambitions, the key conversations and lessons that shaped my month.
open.substack.com
Putin’s brutal war is a vanity project. He doesn’t care about Ukrainians, but he doesn't care about his own citizens either. This war ends when we strengthen Ukraine on the battlefield, tighten sanctions to starve Russia's war machine & force Moscow to negotiate on equal terms.
We need more soldiers who know how to pilot drones, not do push-ups. Xbox skills are becoming more important than bench pressing. Study the war in Ukraine to understand why.
My July newsletter is out now! From Europe’s security to China’s global ambitions, check out the key conversations and lessons that shaped my month. Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/michaelm...
July 2026: Reflections on Europe, NATO, China, and Iran
From Europe’s security to China’s global ambitions, the key conversations and lessons that shaped my month.
open.substack.com
We need more soldiers who know how to pilot drones, not do push-ups. Xbox skills are becoming more important than bench pressing. Study the war in Ukraine to understand why.
Heading to a bookstore this weekend? Support a non-fiction author! Buy a book—any book—and tell me which one you chose!
Heading to a bookstore this weekend? Support a non-fiction author! Buy a book—any book—and tell me which one you chose!
I know it’s considered old-fashioned these days by many to advocate for democracy, abroad and at home, but I still do. And I’m very comfortable with being labeled “old school.” As a high school kid in the 1980s, I loved 60s rock.
I miss the Department of Defense. Our security is best advanced when we deter wars, not when we start them. That’s defense, not offense. Hope we get back to that mindset.
Zelenskyy claims Russia is sharing satellite imagery of U.S. military bases with Iran. Trump's response when asked about this? "I'll ask Putin." That's an embarrassing answer from the president of the United States.
Zelenskyy claims Russia is sharing satellite imagery of U.S. military bases with Iran. Trump's response when asked about this? "I'll ask Putin." That's an embarrassing answer from the president of the United States.
"Тепер час працює не на Путіна, а на Україну. І я сподіваюся, що Путін зрозуміє цей сигнал. Бо якщо він продовжуватиме цю війну, то лише погіршуватиме власне становище." Читайте більше з мого інтерв’ю для Espreso / Slawa TV! espreso.tv/svit-makfol-...
Час більше не грає на боці Путіна, - Майкл Макфол
Україна переломила хід війни, тоді як РФ дедалі глибше занурюється в економічну кризу, а в оточенні Путіна зростає нервозність - зогкрема про це сказав Макфол
espreso.tv
"Макфол: Путін не здатен перемогти, а Трамп став більш прихильним до України." Читайте більше з мого інтерв’ю для Espreso / Slawa TV! espreso.tv/svit-makfol-...
Trump says he'll "ask Putin" whether Russia is providing Iran with satellite imagery to target U.S. bases. America has one of the world's most capable intelligence communities. Yet the president says he'll ask Iran's longtime ally directly.
Trump says he'll "ask Putin" whether Russia is providing Iran with satellite imagery to target U.S. bases. America has one of the world's most capable intelligence communities. Yet the president says he'll ask Iran's longtime ally directly.
I recently joined Elliot Gerson at the @AspenInstitute for a wide-ranging conversation on the changing dynamics of international relations. We discussed the challenges confronting democracies, why diplomacy matters, and much more. Watch here: michaelmcfaul.substack.com/p/democracy-...
Democracy, Diplomacy and the New World Order
A recording of my recent talk at the Aspen Institute
michaelmcfaul.substack.com
I’m glad the mood music in the Trump-Zelenskyy relationship has changed for the better. I hope now it will lead to concrete policy changes — more weapons for Ukraine, more sanctions for Russia. Talk is cheap.
