M. Gessen: "If Ukraine Falls, All of Europe Could Fall" | Amanpour & Co

Feb 21, 2025 | Jaw-dropping, head-spinning, an earthquake -- all descriptives that have been applied to President Trump's foreign policy. Bringing Russia in from the cold, selling-out Ukraine and strong-arming allies all may be part of Trump's negotiating style. Yet leaders of nations are reeling at what they see as a betrayal of the NATO consensus.

At the same time, observers of American democracy have been stunned by the speed and apparent ease with which Trump and Musk are barrelling through federal institutions and testing the boundaries of executive power.

Journalist Masha Gessen is a vocal critic of both the Kremlin and Trump. Last year, Gessen was convicted in absentia and sentenced by a Moscow court for reporting on the conflict in Ukraine. Gessen's recent reporting explores how authoritarianism can take root in a democracy.

Masha Gessen joins the show to put this critical moment into context.

Originally aired on February 21, 2025