Can the UN do anything to mitigate global crises?

Christiane is at the United Nations, where world leaders are gathering for their first in-person general assembly in three years – just as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin decided to call up 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine. It’s a massive escalation amid his troops’ recent setbacks on the battlefield and comes just after officials in several occupied regions of Ukraine said they will hold referendums on formally joining Russia this week. It adds to a perfect storm of global crises, yet organizations like the UN seem largely incapable of working as a mechanism for peace and stability. Spain is a key NATO member and announced a boost in military spending when it hosted NATO’s summit in Madrid this summer. Its prime minister Pedro Sanchez joins Christiane in New York. 

Also on today's show: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; Jennifer Berkshire, co-author of A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door.

To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices