Christopher Cermak

L Affairs: Rebuilding Ukraine / Ukraine Despite the ongoing war, Ukrainians are beginning to prepare in earnest for the national reconstruction that will follow. By Chris Cermak, Olga Tokariuk Oleksandra Sydorchenko’s flat in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin was destroyed when a Russian shell landed on the four-storey building. Luckily, her family had escaped to Lviv in western Ukraine and no one was hurt. “Our building is the most damaged in the block,” says Sydorchenko.

L Affairs: Diplomacy / Antalya Turkey has found itself with a new diplomatic purpose since Russia invaded Ukraine: the trusted mediator. After years of being seen as unreliable, even mercurial, by the West, and spats with neighbours, it is playing a key role in trying to end the war. That’s why this year’s annual Antalya Forum, attended by more than 75 countries, suddenly became a hot ticket.

A Politics / Global When Chancellor Merkel steps down at the end of September, whoever takes her place will find that there’s no clear roadmap. We talk to the key parties about Germany’s future on the world stage. Take a moment to think about the world of diplomacy when Angela Merkel first took power in 2005.