Since the International Criminal Court declared an arrest warrant for my nation's president, I've been the one travelling abroad to deal with the politicians of the rest of the world or taking part in international events. It's not an easy task at all, as I haven't even been able to attend all of them, and when I had, they have often ended with either my colleagues walking out during my speeches or me exiting prematurely. Even at home, back in Russia, I appear to be an outsider, often standing on the sidelines and watching the work of the past 20 years crumble right before my eyes.

I'm standing, as alone as usual, in the corridor adjacent to the conference room, going over some last-minute notes, and giving myself enough time to prepare mentally for today's events.