Amanpour – “Using Frozen Russian Assets to Support Ukraine”

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Bianna Golodryga (sitting in for Christiane Amanpour, CNN)
Episode Overview:
This episode focuses on pivotal geopolitical challenges and social issues making headlines, starting with the heated debate among European leaders over whether to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s war effort. It also delves into contrasting US-EU approaches to AI regulation, the resonance and complexity of the women’s liberation movement as captured in a new Broadway play, and a powerful interview with a double mass-shooting survivor reflecting on gun violence in America.

1. Using Frozen Russian Assets to Support Ukraine

Main Theme:
European leaders are meeting at a critical Brussels summit to decide whether roughly $250 billion in frozen Russian assets can be tapped to support Ukraine’s war effort as it heads into its fourth year. The episode explores the legal, political, and strategic controversies surrounding this unprecedented proposal.

Key Points and Discussion

• Europe’s Critical Decision (00:34–03:30):

  • Most of the frozen Russian assets (approximately 90%) are held in Belgium (Euroclear).
  • Belgium expresses concern about disproportionate risk and potential legal liabilities, impact on euro credibility, and status as investment destination.
  • Summit seen as a test of European unity and resolve.

• Legal and Geopolitical Tension:

  • Critics question the legality of repurposing state assets and warn of Russian retaliation.
  • Quote: “It’s setting up a clash between member states with Belgium raising serious concerns given that it holds the lion’s share of the frozen cash. Critics argue that it’s legally questionable and risks serious retaliation from Moscow.” — Bianna Golodryga (00:54)

• Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Warning: (02:25)

  • Quote: “Now we have a simple choice, either money today or blood tomorrow. And I am not talking about Ukraine only, I am talking about Europe. And this is our decision to make and only ours. I think all European leaders have to finally rise to this occasion.” — Donald Tusk (02:25–02:53)

• Ukraine’s Perspective and Stakes: (03:30–06:06)

  • Ukraine faces a looming financial shortfall affecting defense and strategic capacity.
  • President Zelensky appeals for support, linking funding to Ukraine’s—and Europe’s—security at the negotiating table.
  • Quote: “Money is needed so that Russia and other countries in the world does not use these assets as leverage against us. We are more confident at the negotiating table if we have these assets.” — Volodymyr Zelensky (05:29)

• US Position: (06:06–07:18)

  • The US stance has shifted; speculation exists that Washington wants to retain these assets’ leverage for a future peace deal.
  • The Biden administration was quietly supportive, but under Trump, less clarity and no recent public updates.

  “There has been some speculation... that the US perhaps was not on board with this idea... because they wanted to use them as part of a peace deal.” — Claire Sebastian (06:30)

2. AI Regulation: EU vs. United States

Main Theme:
A deep dive with Marietje Schaake (former MEP, Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AI) on how Europe and America are diverging in their approaches to artificial intelligence governance and oversight.

Key Topics and Insights

• Contrast in Regulation Approaches: (08:50–09:52)

  • The EU focuses on safeguarding privacy and rights, a stance rooted in history (abuses under Nazi and communist regimes).
  • The US, under President Trump, promotes deregulation and recently issued an executive order blocking states from passing independent AI legislation.

  “Very few people around the world believe that no rules will render the best results for societies writ large. But under the Trump administration, that is the direction that the United States is taking. And it's incredibly important... because so many of the biggest and most powerful AI companies are American.” — Marietje Schaake (08:50)

• Europe’s Regulatory Tradition: (09:52–11:40)

  • Data protection seen as part of the European “quality of life.”
  • EU’s AI Act aims for innovation built on trust and robust oversight, similar to sectors like food, medicine, and cars.

• Competitiveness & Innovation Debate: (11:40–13:57)

  • Critics say strict EU rules risk driving talent and business to the US (e.g., 40 notable US AI models vs. three in Europe last year).
  • Schaake argues that regulation can also foster innovation, and biggest barriers are differences across the EU and access to capital.
  • Quote: “It's too simple to say regulation stifles innovation... some regulations have sparked innovation.” — Marietje Schaake (12:10)

• US Executive Order and Federalism Tension: (13:57–17:08)

  • Tech firms tie their fate closely to Trump; his stance is controversial in Europe.
  • The White House’s ban on state-level AI laws may spark court challenges—raises broader questions about federalism and democracy.

  “The approach by the White House thus far has been one of deregulation... this executive order that seeks to ban states from passing laws... it will be challenged because it touches on the very idea of federalism in the United States.” — Marietje Schaake (14:46)

• Environmental and Societal Impact of AI: (17:08–19:47)

  • Data centers consuming enormous energy and water are drawing local pushback and concern about their impact on communities, power grids, and climate.
  • Some US Congress members and EU countries are considering or have enacted moratoria on new centers.

• AI: Bubble or Job Killer? (19:47–21:45)

  • Rapid AI investment stirs fears of an economic bubble and/or major job losses.
  • Quote: “How much risk and gamble do we want tech companies and the billionaires behind them to take, while the consequences, the price, the social unrest...” — Marietje Schaake (20:39)

3. Broadway’s "Liberation": Memory, Feminism, Family

Main Theme:
Playwright Bess Wohl and actor Kristalyn Lloyd discuss “Liberation,” a play exploring the legacy of the women’s liberation movement through interwoven timelines and perspectives, raising questions about generational progress, intersectionality, and how we tell stories.

Key Points and Memorable Moments

• Storytelling Across Timelines: (24:22–24:54)

  • Wohl wanted to connect past and present, making the 1970s feel “immediate and alive” for audiences.
  • Quote: “I wanted to put the past in conversation with right now and really ask questions about where have we been, where are we going? What has been gained, what has been lost?” — Bess Wohl (24:22)

• Theater as Generational Bridge:

  • Play centers on Lizzie, who reflects on her mother’s activism, exploring what was gained and lost by the feminist movement.
  • The play is both personal (memoir of mother-daughter relationships) and universal (questioning how social change happens—or unravels).

  “Lizzie... is looking at whether her mom regrets her life, whether her mom's happy with the choices she made, and how a mother who was so radical could have lived such a traditional life after she got married and had kids... How did a movement that was so radical land us in the moment that we're in right now... where it feels like so much is slipping away?” — Bess Wohl (26:33)

• Consciousness-Raising and Intersectionality: (28:11–29:06)

  • The play foregrounds the diversity—and tensions—within the movement, illustrated by the consciousness-raising groups.
  • Kristalyn Lloyd found respect for the courage of 1970s women and the risks of pushing for equality amid backlash.

  “I learned how brave it was to be a part of them, how high the risk was to show up... The stakes for women in the 70s were so much higher.” — Kristalyn Lloyd (28:11)

• On Voice and Representation: (30:11–32:10)

  • Not all women’s experiences are interchangeable; the play examines differences between Black and white feminists and between mothers and non-mothers.
  • Tension and humor erupt in a scene between two Black women, Celeste and Joanne, over the privileges and constraints within activism.

  “You make a women’s group that women can’t come to… There’s something really true in that. I wanted to show the difference in perspective… showing the seams and the complexities and the fractures within the movement...” — Bess Wohl (32:10)

• Meta Commentary on Theater and Storytelling: (34:24–36:02)

  • The play questions not only the feminist movement, but also the centering of white voices/narrative in cultural productions.
  • Quote: “I’m asking questions about how the very play is constructed, not just how the movement was made, but how the play itself is made.” — Bess Wohl (34:24)
  • Kristalyn Lloyd applauded the honesty, “Bess does something that a lot of writers with her complexion aren’t able to do, which is to step aside and to possibly listen and let these two characters teach.” (35:28)

4. Surviving Two Mass Shootings: Zoe Weissman’s Story

Main Theme:
A deeply moving conversation between Michelle Martin and Zoe Weissman, survivor of both the 2018 Parkland shooting and a recent shooting at Brown University. Weissman reflects on trauma, survivor’s guilt, coping, activism, and the inescapable presence of gun violence in American youth culture.

Key Points and Quotes

• On Experiencing It Twice: (39:37–41:38)

  • Quote: “Unfortunately, this is something I’ve been through before. So I do think it’s a little bit easier for me to cope with. So I’m mostly feeling the anger right now.” — Zoe Weissman (39:38)
  • Weissman describes how her PTSD from Parkland led her to immediately recognize what was happening at Brown and default to lockdown procedures.

• Preparedness, Trauma, and Support: (43:04–45:34)

  • She credits Brown University for a prompt, compassionate response but notes the reality is no campus is immune.
  • Quote: “I think that for the most part, I did not think that this would be something I’d ever experience again... I have friends already that have been through two mass shootings.” — Zoe Weissman (45:34)

• Generational Impact: (47:39–49:02)

  • The “normalization” of lockdown drills since Sandy Hook; youth hypervigilance is now an ingrained feature.
  • Quote: “It’s something that’s been so deeply ingrained into our youth and our childhood that is kind of hard for people who are older than us to understand…” — Zoe Weissman (47:58)

• Root Causes of Gun Violence: (49:07–51:58)

  • Weissman points to federal inaction, constitutional gun rights, gun lobby influence, and American gun culture as fundamental problems.
  • Quote: “We are one of the only countries in the world that has that right [to bear arms] enshrined within our Constitution. And I think that’s led to this culture where guns are kind of almost worshipped, in a sense, where guns are seen as more valuable than human lives.” — Zoe Weissman (50:36)

• On Hope and Activism: (52:15–54:14)

  • Despite trauma, Weissman remains hopeful future generations will drive political transformation.
  • Quote: “The real change is going to come when people in my generation are able to actually secure positions of power.” — Zoe Weissman (52:15)

5. Notable Quotes and Moments

Timestamps Provided

• “Now we have a simple choice, either money today or blood tomorrow.” — Donald Tusk (02:25)
• “Money is needed so that Russia and other countries in the world does not use these assets as leverage against us.” — Volodymyr Zelensky (05:29)
• “Very few people around the world believe that no rules will render the best results for societies writ large.” — Marietje Schaake (08:50)
• “You make a women’s group that women can’t come to.” — Joanne (as described by Bess Wohl, 32:10)
• “Unfortunately, this is something I’ve been through before... So I’m mostly feeling the anger right now.” — Zoe Weissman (39:38)
• “Guns are seen as more valuable than human lives.” — Zoe Weissman (50:36)
• “The real change is going to come when people in my generation are able to actually secure positions of power.” — Zoe Weissman (52:15)

6. Segment Guide

• 00:34–07:18: Frozen Russian assets & Ukraine Summit (with Donald Tusk, Claire Sebastian reporting from Brussels, Zelensky’s remarks)
• 07:18–22:01: AI regulation (US vs. EU, guest: Marietje Schaake)
• 24:22–37:24: "Liberation" Broadway play discussion (Bess Wohl, Kristalyn Lloyd)
• 39:32–54:14: Zoe Weissman on surviving two shootings (interviewed by Michelle Martin)

Tone & Language:
The episode blends the urgency of global politics, the intellectual rigor of policy debates, the poignancy and humor of theater, and the rawness of survivor testimony. Speakers are candid, reflective, and passionate in advocating for change, be it at the level of governments, theaters, or college campuses.

Summary for Non-Listeners:
This episode encapsulates Europe at a crossroads over its support for Ukraine and how its choices reverberate geopolitically; it gives a nuanced analysis of why the EU and US are diverging on how to govern transformative technologies like AI; it celebrates and challenges the ongoing fight for women’s equality; and most memorably, it gives voice to a young American who has lived through two school shootings—turning trauma into activism and hope.

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