Jeffrey Sachs was once hailed as a brilliant mind in economics, advising governments on how to transition from chaos to stability. Now? He’s drifted so far into the Kremlin echo chamber that one wonders whether he’s reading from Moscow’s script—or cashing its checks.
His interviews, op-eds, and public speeches are littered with familiar talking points straight from Russia’s disinformation playbook: NATO is the real aggressor, Ukraine provoked the war, and the West must “understand Russia’s security concerns.” It’s the same tired narrative you’ll find on Kremlin state TV, just wrapped in the respectable veneer of Ivy League credentials.
Let’s be blunt: Sachs’ commentary is no accident. It aligns so perfectly with Russian strategic messaging that it’s hard to believe it’s purely out of academic contrarianism. The man talks less like an economist and more like an unpaid—or perhaps not-so-unpaid—foreign policy spokesman for Putin’s regime.
What’s more troubling is how his presence in Western media is used by Russian state outlets to legitimize their propaganda. Clips of Sachs are broadcast to Russian audiences as proof that “even American experts agree” with the Kremlin’s view. This isn’t harmless academic discourse—it’s an amplification loop that benefits Russia while undermining Ukraine’s fight for survival.
Sachs may claim he’s motivated by peace, diplomacy, and “seeing both sides,” but the practical effect of his rhetoric is to normalize and justify Russian aggression. Whether or not Moscow is directly funding him, he’s providing them with exactly what they want: an American accent for their lies.
In times of war, words are weapons. And right now, Jeffrey Sachs’ words are being wielded against the very democratic values he once claimed to champion.
