The United States-Ukraine plan for a temporary ceasefire has turned up the heat on Russian President Vladimir Putin. What are Donald Trump's next moves if Putin either refuses to accept the deal or places unacceptable demands on Ukraine and its allies?Host Anne McElvoy talks to Kurt Volker, who has a particular insight into Trump’s thinking on Ukraine. Volker was the U.S. special representative during his first administration and America’s ambassador to NATO under President George W. Bush. They discuss how any ensuing negotiations might play out and whether a meaningful peace deal can be achieved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s olive branch to Donald Trump be enough to secure Ukraine’s future — and his own? After his bruising encounter with the U.S. president in the Oval Office, Zelenskyy issued an eleventh-hour missive and said he was ready to sign the minerals deal and "work fast to end the war."Host Anne McElvoy speaks with one of the most senior politicians in Ukraine, Oleksandr Merezhko, Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee chair and staunch Zelenskyy ally, who argues that Trump is "being used by Putin" in his attempts to force a deal and call for fresh elections in Ukraine.She is also joined by POLITICO Europe’s Opinion Editor Jamie Dettmer from Kyiv on the fast-moving realpolitik being played between Ukraine, the U.S. and European capitals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Crenshaw, a Republican congressman and former Navy SEAL, discusses the urgent need for Europe to enhance its defense capabilities amidst rising tensions with Russia. He critiques the current state of European military readiness and argues that if they want American support, they must step up. The conversation also touches on hot-button issues like Trump's foreign policy strategies, the intersection of identity politics and military standards, and reflections on past military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

John Bolton, former U.S. National Security Advisor, shares insights on Trump's negotiations with Putin regarding Ukraine. He highlights growing concerns among European allies about NATO's future. Sanna Marin, Finland's former Prime Minister, discusses the necessity of a unified European response to maintain security and challenge rising authoritarianism. They analyze the implications of America's shifting foreign policy and stress the importance of enhancing European defense capabilities in light of current geopolitical threats.

Federico Sturzenegger, former president of Argentina's central bank and Harvard economist, discusses the populist style of Argentina’s President Javier Milei and his radical economic reforms. He examines the parallels between Milei's and Trump’s economic policies, particularly on free trade versus tariffs. The conversation reveals how Milei’s leadership may inspire similar movements worldwide, and highlights the challenges of economic reform, government involvement, and the potential for international partnerships to boost growth.

Larry Summers, the former U.S. Treasury secretary and Harvard economics professor, delves into Trump's tariffs and their global repercussions. He critiques Trump's aggressive trade tactics with Mexico and Canada, while discussing the fraught dynamics with China. Summers offers strategic advice for the EU and UK, urging them to navigate this turbulent landscape wisely. Additionally, he tackles concerns surrounding academic freedom and the impact of federal policies on diversity initiatives at universities, emphasizing the need for open dialogue in these challenging times.

Donald Trump has made a blitz of announcements designed to boost the United States' tech industry. But then a new Chinese artificial intelligence model came along and caused a stir on Wall Street. Is this a new dawn or a fresh threat? Host Anne McElvoy talks to one of Silicon Valley’s leading entrepreneurs, Reid Hoffman. Co-founder of LinkedIn, he’s invested in companies like Airbnb and Facebook and is now investing in AI startups. His new book is called "Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future."How does his optimistic vision for the future square with the disruptive force of a world powered by AI — and one in which American and Chinese rivalry could have unforeseen consequences? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world has entered a new era of intelligence, as artificial intelligence technologies are being rapidly developed and adopted across industries and around the globe. So, it’s apropos that the theme of the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was “Collaboration in the Intelligent Age.” With the first provisions of the European Union’s AI Act set to roll out shortly after the forum wraps, conversations in Davos were buzzing around AI.In an ever-changing global marketplace, collaborative development and effective governance are essential to building AI ecosystems that are transparent, ethically compliant and safe. On a special branded episode of Power Play, presented by IBM, POLITICO Focus contributor David Himmel explores what true collaboration looks like, the ways open AI systems are changing the game for businesses of all sizes and how industry leaders can work with governments to ensure a return on investment that benefits everyone.Himmel speaks with Christina Montgomery, IBM’s chief privacy and trust officer and interim leader of government affairs. She talks about the need for access to open AI development, the importance of privacy and how diverse, global collaboration will help solve the questions and challenges we face in this new age of intelligence.Power Play is a POLITICO original podcast series. This special branded episode from IBM was produced by POLITICO Focus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year’s annual jamboree in the Alps is drawing to a close. And the man who’s dominated the week — Donald Trump —spoke to the World Economic Forum. He’s hardly the centrist “Davos Man” but he had a message from Washington for the gathering.In Power Play's final edition from the World Economic Forum in Davos, host Anne McElvoy talks to William Browder, financier and activist, who has been a leading campaigner against Vladimir Putin’s regime since his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was arrested and died in custody in Russia 15 years ago. Does he think Trump can strike a deal with Putin to end the war in Ukraine?Later, she talks to Suzanne Lynch, author of POLITICO’s Global Playbook, who steps away from her whirlwind of conversations to sum up the week’s events — and gossip — here in Davos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is America headed for a new "golden age"? Or will Donald Trump’s promise falter? And where does that leave the quest for prosperity across the Atlantic? They're the questions on the lips of many economists, business leaders and politicians gathering at the World Economic Forum in Davos.Host Anne McElvoy talks to two authorities on the United States and global economy: Ken Rogoff, professor at Harvard, chess grand master and former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, and Huw van Steenis, who was a senior adviser to the former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney and is now vice chair at the consultancy Oliver Wyman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices