World

When President John F. Kennedy stood in West Berlin in 1963 and declared “Ich bin ein Berliner,” his words rang out as a Cold War promise of protection. More than 60 years later, Berlin is again defined by sound—not speeches but sirens—as Europe rediscovers a warning system once thought obsolete.

To shoot down Russian Shahed drones that entered NATO airspace, Poland and neighboring countries scrambled their air forces. Among the possible targets was the American contingent stationed in Poland.

This week, Ukrainian Independence Day events abroad will bring supporters together on every continent, from Tokyo to Toronto, and London to New York.

At the White House, Zelenskyy, Trump, and Western allies vowed to pursue peace and security for Ukraine. In Moscow, propagandists scrambled to twist the summit into another “victory” for Putin—trying to stir up a fight in an empty room.

In Russia, death is big business. Funerals are surging, and the dead end up worth more than the living. Behind the coffins lies a criminal empire of morgue gangs, crooked officials, and security-service insiders—a shadow network growing darker amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The Putin and Trump talks are set to happen at the summit in Alaska on August 15, where talks could impact Russia’s war in Ukraine. Here are the essentials to understand how we got here and what’s on the table.