EPISODE · Jun 26, 2026 · 41 MIN
Can Europe help repair the invisible scars of war?
from Brussels Playbook Podcast · host POLITICO
After four and a half years of war, Ukraine’s physical destruction is easy to see. But the psychological damage caused by occupation, displacement and loss is much harder to measure — although just as urgent to repair. David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and a former British foreign secretary, joins Sarah Wheaton after returning from southern Ukraine. He explains why mental health support must become a central part of the country’s recovery, and why the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure — from Ukraine to Gaza, Sudan and Congo — points to a growing “new world disorder.” As the United States retreats from humanitarian aid under Donald Trump, can Europe fill the gap — in Ukraine and beyond? Later, as the week marks 10 years since the Brexit vote, Anne McElvoy joins Sarah to discuss the political chaos in London, what Keir Starmer’s departure means for the EU–U.K. reset, and whether Andy Burnham might be prepared to take the relationship further. Questions? Comments? Send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
After four and a half years of war, Ukraine’s physical destruction is easy to see. But the psychological damage caused by occupation, displacement and loss is much harder to measure — although just as urgent to repair. David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and a former British foreign secretary, joins Sarah Wheaton after returning from southern Ukraine. He explains why mental health support must become a central part of the country’s recovery, and why the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure — from Ukraine to Gaza, Sudan and Congo — points to a growing “new world disorder.” As the United States retreats from humanitarian aid under Donald Trump, can Europe fill the gap — in Ukraine and beyond? Later, as the week marks 10 years since the Brexit vote, Anne McElvoy joins Sarah to discuss the political chaos in London, what Keir Starmer’s departure means for the EU–U.K. reset, and whether Andy Burnham might be prepared to take the relationship further. Questions? Comments? Send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Can Europe help repair the invisible scars of war?
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