Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir from the Front Lines of Russia's War Against the West
Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir from the Front Lines of Russia's War Against the West
Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir from the Front Lines of Russia's War Against the West
Description
Description
A memoir of service by the most recent U.S. ambassador to Moscow, John Sullivan, who was on the diplomatic front lines when Putin invaded Ukraine--and who is now presenting the first behind-the-scenes account of how U.S.-Russia relations hit their nadir, and explaining where we can go from here. For weeks before the invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan was warning that it would happen. When troops finally crossed the border, he was woken in the middle of the night by an employee at Embassy Moscow with a prearranged code. The signal was even more bracing than the cold of that February night: it meant that Sullivan needed to collect his bodyguards and get to the embassy as soon as possible. The war had begun, and U.S.-Russia relations would never be the same. In Midnight in Moscow, Sullivan offers a memoir of his last post, as well as a broader argument about how our relationship with Russia has deteriorated over the past three years and where it's going. His arrival in Moscow coincided almost exactly with a dramatic series of escalations by the Kremlin. He saw firsthand how the Russian leadership repeatedly lied about their intentions to invade Ukraine in the weeks leading up to the attack--while also devoting huge numbers of personnel and vast resources to undermining the U.S. diplomatic presence in Russia. But it was not until Vladimir Putin gave the order to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 25, 2022 that Sullivan had to admit that Russia was not just at war with its neighbor: it was also at war, in a very real sense, with the United States, and with everything that it represents. Russian leaders' treachery and naked hostility, he says, is definitive proof that there can be no negotiation with Putin's regime or with the Russians at large until their government is thoroughly transformed. A unique perspective on a pivotal moment in world history, Midnight in Moscow also draws shocking historical parallels to explain why we need to stand up to Moscow--and how far we should be prepared to go in that confrontation.
About the Author
About the Author
John J. Sullivan is an American attorney and government official whose career spans four decades in the public and private sectors. He has served five presidents in prominent diplomatic and legal positions, including as U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation under Presidents Joe Biden (January 2021 to October 2022) and Donald Trump (December 2019 to January 2021). Before his post in Moscow, he served for almost three years as the U.S. deputy secretary of state. He is currently a distinguished fellow at Georgetown and Columbia Universities, a partner in Mayer Brown LLP, and a member of the congressionally chartered, bipartisan Commission on Reform and Modernization of the Department of State.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Midnight in Moscow is nonfiction that reads like a thriller. With rich, personal details, John Sullivan lifts the curtain on the real Russia and offers a compelling portrait of tough, effective diplomacy in our complex world."--Wendy R. Sherman, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
"Riveting and rich in detail, Midnight in Moscow ranges from the 'pressure cooker' of Donald Trump's Washington to the 'hot seat' of Moscow, offering an illuminating account of the last-ditch diplomatic efforts to head off disaster as Vladimir Putin careens toward war with Ukraine. Readers will be grateful that such a distinguished diplomat was on hand for this difficult time."--Fiona Hill, New York Times bestselling author of There Is Nothing for You Here
"An extraordinary if not unprecedented frontline memoir by one of our nation's most experienced public servants, Midnight in Moscow weaves history, politics, and firsthand accounts into a timeless and valuable portrait of contemporary U.S.-Russia relations. Ambassador Sullivan's remarkable narrative gives policy makers and casual readers alike a rare glimpse into the makeup and future of one of the planet's most challenging and critical bilateral relationships."--Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and China
"The roster of public servants who have held the ambassadorial post in Moscow includes names like George Kennan and Averell Harriman, and John Sullivan has earned a place in the same sentence as those celebrated gentlemen... Midnight in Moscow is not only a compelling account of Sullivan's years as our ambassador to Russia and a brilliant assessment of what lurks inside the mind of Vladimir Putin, but also a master class in how to be an effective, thoughtful, and humble public servant."
--James N. Mattis, General (Retired), US Marine Corps "Sullivan's knowledgeable text must be heeded.... With the authority of personal experience, Sullivan paints a vivid, dark, frightening picture of Russia in the Putin era."--Kirkus Reviews (starred) "Midnight in Moscow is an elegantly written and riveting account of serving in the toughest diplomatic post in the world. John Sullivan's empathy, dedication to duty, and humility run through this book. I hope that young Americans will read it, and will and emulate the author's commitment to selfless service."--H.R. McMaster, New York Times bestselling author of Dereliction of Duty, Battlegrounds, and At War with Ourselves "John Sullivan's deep understanding of decision-making by Putin and other Russian senior leaders is rivaled only by legendary observers such as Ambassadors Kennan, Harriman, or Burns. His writing is crisp as he walks us through the critical meetings and crises from Covid to the fall of Afghanistan to the unprovoked war of aggression when Russia invaded Ukraine, clearly describing the various events in detail as if you are there in the room but also, and more importantly, explaining the 'why' and 'what is to be done' from a U.S. National Security perspective. Midnight in Moscow is a fascinating eyewitness account and a must-read for anyone interested in the most consequential events of our time."--Mark Milley, General (Retired), U.S. Army
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Little Brown and Company
Pub date:
2024-08-06
Length:
384 pages
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