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John Sullivan’s Midnight in Moscow offers a unique, first-hand account of diplomatic life on the fault lines between Russia and the West. Drawing from his experience as U.S. ambassador to Russia, Sullivan brings a deep understanding of the Kremlin’s mindset and tactics. He has plenty of important insights to share—but the book can, at times, feel bogged down by repetitive diplomatic blow-by-blow: meetings that lead to ultimatums, consultations with Washington, and carefully worded responses, only for the cycle to repeat. These sections occasionally lack momentum, making parts of the memoir feel like they’re circling rather than moving forward.

That said, the final section of the book is where it truly shines. Sullivan draws a chilling and persuasive legal comparison between Russia’s behaviour in the lead-up to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Nazi Germany’s actions before its invasion of Poland in 1939. The parallels he lays out are striking: both regimes issued ultimatums with unreasonably short deadlines; both cloaked aggression under the guise of protecting minority populations or responding to manufactured threats; both distorted history to justify their claims and refused to recognise the sovereignty of their target nations.

Sullivan’s comparison goes beyond surface analogies, highlighting the strategic use of intimidation, military build-up, and demands for sweeping concessions—all accompanied by a narrative of “legitimate interests� that crumble under scrutiny. This final analysis ties the memoir together with a sharp sense of historical awareness and urgency, making it a thought-provoking and timely read despite some structural drawbacks.

Recommended for readers with an interest in contemporary diplomacy, Russian foreign policy, or the long echoes of authoritarian ambition.