In an essay on his Substack, Michael McFaul argues that Donald Trump's second-term concessions to Vladimir Putin—ending aid to Ukraine, waiving new sanctions and tariffs, easing sanctions on Russian diesel, and restricting SpaceX's satellite service Ukraine relies on—have emboldened Putin without slowing his war. McFaul hopes a newly balanced Congress in 2027 will pass new military aid for Ukraine and bar business deals with Russian companies until the war ends.