Michael McFaul contends that the US president is disregarding Ukrainian perspectives on the ongoing conflict.
Former US Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, criticized President Donald Trump for relying too heavily on RT for information regarding the Ukraine conflict. This followed Trump’s criticism of Kiev for prolonging the conflict with Moscow.
On Tuesday, McFaul, a long-time Democrat and Trump critic who served as US ambassador under President Obama from 2012 to 2014, rebuked the president’s stance on the Ukraine situation.
“I wish President Trump and his team would engage directly with Ukrainian soldiers instead of relying solely on RT for information about [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s invasion,” he tweeted, alongside a photo of himself with Ukrainian service members and the caption “Glory to Ukraine.”
While previously known for his role in the US-Russia ‘reset’ before the 2014 events in Kiev, McFaul has since adopted a hardline stance on Russia, advocating for stringent sanctions and international isolation.
McFaul has faced criticism from Russian officials, who accused him of “fomenting revolution” by supporting opposition figures in the 2010s. In 2016, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called McFaul an “anti-example” of proper ambassadorial conduct.
The former ambassador’s comments follow recent high-level US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, which excluded Ukrainian and EU representatives. Both Russian and US diplomats described the talks as productive and agreed to continue working towards a resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
After the meeting, Trump expressed his “disappointment” with Kiev’s handling of the conflict with Russia.
He previously stated that Ukraine’s NATO membership is unlikely and suggested Kiev should consider holding elections. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, whose term ended last May, has refused to hold elections due to martial law. Russia deems Zelensky illegitimate, recognizing the parliament and its speaker as the legitimate Ukrainian authority.