Midnight in Moscow | Conversation with Ambassador John Sullivan

For weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ambassador John J. Sullivan, former US Ambassador to the Russian Federation, was warning that it would happen. When troops finally crossed the border, he was woken in the middle of the night with a prearranged code. The signal was even more bracing than the February cold: it meant that Ambassador Sullivan needed to collect his bodyguards and get to the embassy as soon as possible. The war had begun, and the world would never be the same.

Please join us for a special evening celebrating the launch of Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir from the Front Lines of Russia’s War Against the West, Ambassador Sullivan's memoir of a pivotal period in international relations—and a playbook for understanding the unfolding global confrontation.

In addition to sharing a behind-the-scenes account of diplomatic negotiations and strategic decisions during invasion, Midnight in Moscow covers how the United States’ relationship with Russia has deteriorated, where it’s headed, and how far the United States should be prepared to go in standing up to Russian aggression.

The event will feature a discussion with Ambassador Sullivan—moderated by Mayer Brown partner Andrew Olmem, Mayer Brown’s DC office managing partner—followed by a book signing. This is an opportunity to engage with the author directly and gain deeper insight into the national security implications of the invasion as the election draws near.