What do my Polish friend and the French author of "The Defeat of the West" Emmanuel Todd have in common? How little they actually know about russia and Ukraine. And this explains the success that russian propaganda has in the West.
What do my Polish friend, with whom I recently spoke, and the Frenchman Emmanuel Todd, the author of russophile book "The Defeat of the West", which I am currently reading, have in common? How little they actually know about russia and Ukraine. And this explains the success that russian propaganda has in the West. In Todd's case, I'm not at all sure that he didn't simply write a propaganda book commissioned by the russians, given the number of monstrous errors that in places completely repeat russian propaganda. But it clearly demonstrates how russian lies and propaganda are broadcast in the West, and what's worse, many people sincerely believe it. But it is worth reading it at least to calm down - the West is not in danger of defeat.
Poland has recorded intensive psychological operations against Ukraine in Poland by russia. The growth of anti-Ukrainian sentiment is observed in places where there are nodes of assistance for the transfer of weapons, the Polish General Staff reported on the social network X.
In particular, the Polish General Staff recorded russian information operations and incitement to anti-Ukrainian sentiment. They are manifested in the burning of Ukrainian cars, the drawing of anti-war murals - and intensive information activity on the Internet, on portals and accounts of persons who propagate sentiments of hatred towards Ukraine.
The country's General Staff summarized that russia is carrying out aggressive actions against Ukraine and their sole purpose is to fill the Polish population with fear and a sense of threat due to the presence of Ukrainians in Poland.
https://x.com/sztabgenwp/status/1985279185200316761?s=46I am not surprised that russia, as always, is counting on fear and ignorance. This is also the target group of populist politicians, whose influence has recently been growing in the West.
The President of Ukraine announced another "winter support" program, similar to last year's, which provides direct assistance to citizens in the amount of 1,000 hryvnias (approximately 24 US dollars). The government, apparently, again did not find where the warring Ukraine can spend the money received from the West. But political PR turned out to be more in demand...
Even as a social program, this is a bad decision, because the lack of targeting of assistance, for which the previous "thousands" were criticized, persists.
Direct payments to the population do not stimulate real production, but rather create the illusion of well-being, accelerating inflation and distorting demand, because resources are spent not where they are really needed.
The government also promises 18-25 year olds up to 200 thousand hryvnias (approximately 4,762 US dollars) to start a business. From 2026: 100 thousand without jobs, 200 thousand for one job created, 350 thousand for two.
These are not new resources, but a budgetary redistribution of money from some to others. The decision on where the capital will go is made by the official, not the market; the "knowledge problem" is at work, so presentable applications are funded, not the most profitable ideas. Part of the grants will go to consumption and "paper" vacancies.
Crowding out occurs: taxpayers and competitors subsidize the chosen ones, costs and prices increase. In the real economy, jobs are created by profit, not subsidies. It would be better to reduce taxes on labor and start-ups, deregulate registration/closure, as implemented, for example, in Poland.
The government should stop playing the role of a generous welfare state and redirect budget funds from populist programs to reducing the tax burden.
The "Ukrzaliznytsia 3000" project will also be launched - free rail travel within 3,000 kilometers during the "low" season.
https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-society/4054782-na-zimovu-pidtrimku-v-budzeti-peredbacili-ponad-14-milardiv-koli-podavati-zaavku.html Perhaps this is a hidden form of subsidizing the state-owned monopoly company.
The budget allocates almost 350 million US dollars for all this populism.
Ukraine is showing "remarkable commitment" to joining the EU, but must reverse recent negative trends in the fight against corruption and accelerate rule of law reforms, the European Commission said in a draft text seen by Reuters. While praising Ukraine for launching reform processes, the European Commission also said that Kyiv needs to make more progress on judicial independence, fighting organised crime and respecting civil society. European officials have previously raised concerns about steps taken in July to establish greater control by Ukraine’s prosecutor general, a political appointee, over the country’s anti-corruption bureau and a specialised prosecution unit.
Rare wartime protests led Ukraine's leadership to quickly reverse course, but the episode caught the attention of Ukraine’s supporters in Brussels and EU capitals.
"Recent negative trends, including a growing pressure on the specialised anti-corruption agencies and civil society, must be decisively reversed," the Commission said in the draft text.
https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraine-committed-eu-accession-should-do-more-rule-law-commission-draft-says-2025-11-03/The National Bank expects that the volume of international assistance will be sufficient for emission-free financing of Ukraine's budget deficit. The NBU assumes that in 2025 Ukraine will receive $51.5 billion, in 2026 - over $45 billion, and in 2027 - $39 billion. This will allow maintaining international reserves at an adequate level, sufficient to maintain the stability of the foreign exchange market.
https://epravda.com.ua/finances/yakiy-prognoz-nacbanku-shchodo-mizhnarodnoji-dopomogi-813620/Ukraine is set to receive over €1.8 billion in funding after the Council adopted a decision on the fifth regular disbursement of support under the EU's Ukraine Facility. This amount reflects Ukraine’s successful completion of nine steps required for the fifth disbursement, as well as one outstanding step from the fourth disbursement. The funding aims primarily to bolster Ukraine’s macro-financial stability and support the continued operation of its public administration.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/11/04/ukraine-facility-council-approves-fifth-payment-of-over-19-billion-to-kyiv/?utm_source=brevo&utm_campaign=AUTOMATED%20-%20Alert%20-%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_id=3318Simply put, the Zelensky regime has once again received money for good behavior.
The UK government recently resupplied Ukraine with more Storm Shadow cruise missiles to enable Kyiv to continue its campaign of long-range strikes inside russia, Bloomberg reports.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-03/uk-sends-ukraine-more-storm-shadow-missiles-to-strike-in-russia?srnd=homepage-europe&embedded-checkout=trueTop Western oil companies are enjoying a windfall from the expanding attacks on russia's oil industry – both literal and economic – that have boosted global refining profit margins and mitigated concerns over a looming supply glut.
Curtailed russian exports have boosted global refining margins, benefiting energy giants like Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and France's TotalEnergies, which jointly operate nearly 11 million bpd, over 10% of global refining capacity. The four companies posted a combined 61% rise in profits from refining operations in the third quarter compared with the previous quarter, which contributed in large part to their 20% rise in overall profits, Reuters writes.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/big-oil-gets-big-boost-escalating-economic-war-russia-2025-11-03/Only a blind person would not see the connection between these events, which are taking place at the expense of Ukrainians.
The summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Donald Trump was a breakthrough in bilateral relationship where the Asian giant was treated as an “equal partner” of the US, according to David Daokui Li, a regular policy adviser to Beijing.
Still, Li expressed optimism that trade, financial and technological conflicts between the countries are “small potatoes” that will be resolved. More important, he said, the equal partnership will see the powers engage in “bigger talks” such as security issues concerning Ukraine, Taiwan, the South China Sea and the Middle East.
While details are still trickling out, the US and China came away from the gathering with a broad agreement spanning tariffs and export controls on critical minerals. The two leaders also agreed to “work together” to “get the war with russia and Ukraine solved,” according to Trump, Bloomberg reports.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-03/beijing-adviser-says-us-talks-cement-china-as-equal-partner?srnd=homepage-europe
