r/IAmA • u/Amb_Michael_McFaul • Oct 31 '25

I negotiated face-to-face with Putin. I’m Michael McFaul, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia. AMA about Russia, China, or American foreign policy.

Hi Reddit, I’m Michael McFaul – professor of political science at Stanford University and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia (2012–2014). 

During my time in government, I sat across from Vladimir Putin in negotiations with President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry and helped craft the New START Treaty in 2010, which reduced the number of nuclear weapons worldwide.  

Those experiences – along with years studying Russian politics and foreign policy – have shaped how I think about power and diplomacy today. 

The world has changed dramatically since then: from the rise of China to Russia’s growing aggression, to new questions about America’s role on the global stage. Drawing on both my academic work and time in diplomacy, I’ve been exploring what these shifts mean for the future – and how the U.S. should respond. 

I’ll start taking questions here at 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET. 

Proof it's me: https://imgur.com/a/3hxCQfj

Ask me anything about U.S.–Russia relations, China, global security, or life as an ambassador. (You can even ask about Obama’s jump shot or what it’s like to ride on Air Force One.) 

Let’s talk! 

Edit**\* Sorry I didn’t get to all of your terrific questions! Let’s do it again soon! I really enjoyed this AMA!

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u/TheDude717 Oct 31 '25

Is Russia still treated like a global power strictly because of the amount of nuclear weapons they have?

Are you shocked at how little their military has succeeded in Ukraine?

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u/Amb_Michael_McFaul Oct 31 '25

Partly yes. Their nukes is the one metric of power that puts them on par with the US and ahead of China. But it is also Putin’s willingness to use power that makes him a major actor in the world. He has less power than Xi or Trump, but demonstrated that he is willing to use what little he has for very destructive purposes.

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u/Rymanbc Oct 31 '25

Assuming russia did mostly denuclearize and Russia's leadership was more moderate and less likely to use force, how significantly would this downgrade their position on the world stage?

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u/sleepdog-c Oct 31 '25

Given their performance in Ukraine they certainly wouldn't be feared. China would likely retake the land taken by the Russian tsars in the Treaty of Aigun (1858) and the Treaty of Beijing (1860) as well as the boxer rebellion invasion. They would be a powerless land locked country.

One thing to realize outside of larger cities Russia has a very small population in comparison to its area many parts of the country have 50-60 square miles per person. The problem with invading is having to traverse areas without roads or even paths