The Reset policy with Russia under Obama did work for a time and produced several significant achievements: negotiation of a new START treaty that reduced nuclear weapons by 30% (2010), opening a new supply route through Russia to Afghanistan to pursue Osama bin Laden, and securing Russian participation in the first multinational sanctions agreement on Iran (UN Security Council Resolution 1929), but it fell apart after the 2011 protests when Putin blamed the West for fomenting revolution.

factualpending

Speaker

Michael McFaul

Evidence Quote

We got a new START treaty, reduced by 30% the number of nuclear weapons. That's 2010. We opened up a new pathway to supply our troops in Afghanistan through Russia...We had sanctions on Iran...The Russians joined our sanctions. UN Security Council Resolution 1929.

Source

“They’re Not Like Us”: Michael McFaul on Autocrats vs. Democrats and the Fight for the 21st CenturyHoover Institution
Created: 8/11/2026, 7:32:51 AM

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