In a move that has stirred deep concern among foreign policy experts, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul has sharply criticized Donald Trump’s decision to meet with Vladimir Putin amid escalating tensions over the war in Ukraine. McFaul, speaking on MSNBC, called the meeting a “fantastic victory for Putin,” warning that it sends a troubling signal to both allies and adversaries.
The Kremlin announced that Trump and Putin would meet in the coming days, a development that Russian state media quickly celebrated as a diplomatic triumph. The optics alone—Trump engaging directly with Putin while sidelining Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—were enough to raise alarm. McFaul argued that such a meeting, without parallel engagement with Ukraine, risks legitimizing Putin’s aggression and undermines the West’s unified stance against the invasion.
📞 The Call That Changed the Tone
Prior to the meeting, Trump and Putin held a 2.5-hour phone call, the longest ever between a U.S. and Russian president. Russian media hailed it as “the most important telephone conversation in the modern world,” with Kremlin officials emphasizing the leaders’ mutual trust and understanding. Trump described the call as “very good,” while Putin’s envoy called it “perfect.” The conversation reportedly touched on energy infrastructure attacks and economic cooperation, but critics say it lacked any real pressure on Russia to de-escalate.
🎯 Strategic Implications
McFaul and other analysts fear that Trump’s approach could embolden Putin, especially as Russia faces economic isolation and military setbacks. By offering Putin a platform without demanding concessions, Trump may inadvertently signal that the U.S. is willing to negotiate without accountability. This could fracture Western unity and weaken Ukraine’s position in future peace talks.
🧊 A Chilling Message to Allies
The former ambassador’s warning is clear: diplomacy without moral clarity risks becoming complicity. Meeting with Putin while ignoring Zelenskyy not only undermines Ukraine’s struggle but also damages America’s credibility as a defender of democratic values. McFaul called it a “giant mistake,” emphasizing that the U.S. must stand firmly with its allies, not offer symbolic victories to autocrats.
