I often get asked how life is in Kyiv. It is not a simple answer. But for sure, life goes on. All seems ok, but just below the surface there is so much pain, trauma, fear and anxiety. How does anyone plan for the future with so much uncertainty?! This is a brave country and everyone loves their homeland – I don’t know a single person that is not trying to help with the war effort. Of course, not everyone is a solider, but everyone I know is either donating to the military, helping to raise money, involved with different charities, helping the army with logistics and supplies, crowdsourcing drones for the armed forces, and whatever else you can imagine. These are not normal activities for countries that are not at war. So yes, in Kyiv life is different but that does not mean that you don’t hear laughter. Quite the opposite in fact. We actually went to the movies last week in Kyiv and saw a funny film, on Tuesday early evening, and the next day, that early Wednesday morning, before the sun came up, 22 ballistic missiles were sent by Russia to Kyiv. It is scary, and yes, people died. And again, life goes on. But nothing is normal.

People are appreciating what they have. No one is taking anything for granted. Perhaps this is what happens when your existence is under threat. I assume it focuses the mind, and the spirit. Family, health, friends. These are the things that matter the most. Relationships. I have less friends these days. Since the start of the war I have lost touch with many people I used to know. Most of my truest friends are here in Kyiv. Again, perhaps this is because of the war. Perhaps this trauma has brought everyone in Kyiv closer together.

There is an attitude here of “We will do it today.” Because no one knows what will happen tomorrow. Perhaps there is wisdom here for the world. And also, there is more laughter here than ever before. And love too. Yes, often it can be a nervous laughter, but no one here has given up on living. Quite the opposite. People are getting married and having babies, and life continues.

There are some jokes going around, and a lot of commentary, about the world at large and the dysfunction in America. As someone said to me the other day, when the bigger war comes to the rest of the world in the next couple of years here in Ukraine everyone will be mentally ready and they will say to the West, “Welcome to the club.”

“Please do not ask Ukraine when the war will end. Ask yourself why Putin is still able to continue it.” – Volodymyr Zelensky.

President Biden made a speech on his visit to Kyiv when he said “as long as it takes”. We don’t hear/see that on the news any more. Instead, it is all about the Tucker Putin show, for some reason. God knows. Americans seem to be out of touch with the realities in the rest of the world, or at least they don’t think they need to care, as whatever happens it won’t affect them. This is very naïve, in my view. And, have you seen what that lunatic Trump has been saying lately about NATO. Yup, that club is going to open up. Everyone will be joining in the not so distant future.

In the past 24 hours I have had so many surreal experiences. Last night Marta took me to the cinema to see Poor Things. What an unusual film – we did enjoy it, but it is not for everyone. You have to be in the right mood.

What makes this movie experience interesting is that we were in a cinema in Kyiv. And then, this morning, at around 7 am, there was a big Russian strike on Kyiv, and other parts of the country. We went down to the basement bomb shelter and joined other people from the building. There were quite a few children there and also, some dogs.

While we were in the bomb shelter I was thinking about Poor Things, that film, and those pathetic Russians. Not to mention the weak Americans who cannot pull their finger out of their asses and do the right thing. What went down here this morning no one should ever have to experience. And yet, it keeps on happening, coming up on two years on the 24^th of this month. And no one is stopping this evil lunatic in Russia.

There is a bigger war coming, and if anyone wonders how come, it is because the privileged and pampered West is too worried about nonsense, when evil is staring the world in the face, and everyone is in denial. This evil is not being stopped and it will continue. And it is already spreading. Just look at what is going on in the world. Aggression and war are the new norms, and it all goes back to Russia.

Such poor things indeed. We are living in a poor world. There may be a lot of billionaires and powerful people out there, but they are so poor. If the men with power in this world were truly rich then none of this would be happening.

Later this month marks two years since the start of this evil war. A war that no one here understands. And by here, I mean here in Kyiv. I am at home and have been here for a few weeks. End of next week I will go back to Wroclaw and then a month later I will come back to Kyiv. And so it will go for 2024.

Let me ask you something. If you are reading this and you perhaps know me, and then you later read in the newspaper that I am a convicted mass murderer would you still talk to me … ? If you hear repeatedly that I am evil would you still call me … ? If you found out that I was a bad person would you still want to have anything to do with me … ? If I knew someone and then I learned that this person was evil I would have nothing further to do with them.

Putin and his henchmen are pure evil. Russia is a problem, to Ukraine, and to the world. And yet, Russians are going on holiday to so many parts of the world, constantly. Every friend of mine who travels tells me that wherever they go it is full of Russians. And international companies continue to do business with Russia. And Russians buy products abroad and have them sent to Russia. WTF ?!

Is the world in denial or something ?! I don’t get it. What has to happen here in Ukraine for someone to scream “ENOUGH !!!”

That old famous quote comes to mind, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

I play a small role in a software start-up venture called PYGIO. A few weeks ago the company had its third birthday and it was a magical moment in time. The PYGIO team is humble, hard working and spirited. The company is growing and there is so much potential. There have been so many amazing people coming together on this journey and one day it will make for a fantastic story. And speaking of stories, please have a look at this. I hope this piece of text captures your imagination a wee bit.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski recently said in an interview, “The consequences of Putin conquering Ukraine would be catastrophic.” He went on to say, “… the cost of deterring Putin after he conquers Ukraine would be much much higher than the cost of keeping the Ukrainians supplied now.” Additional military aid for Ukraine from the US and the EU is critical. There is anxiety in Poland about the war coming to them if Ukraine is not given the support it needs to win this war. Where is common sense and humanity these days ?!

I can’t understand why the leaders of the free world do not do the right thing. The logical thing. The intelligent thing. The moral thing. Putin will only stop when he is stopped, and the cost of stopping him will go through the roof if he is not defeated in Ukraine.

And what is with that disgusting Orban. How can it be that this pig can block the aid that the EU has earmarked for Ukraine. How does the EU get anything done if one person can just halt what is clearly the right thing to do. What kind of democracy is that ?! Dysfunction seems to the new norm. And cold-hearted people who are playing God. What a mess.

I don’t believe Ukraine will fall, but if they do, that means evil has won and if that is the case then we are all going to hell.

As this hard year draws to a close I can’t but wonder what 2024 is going to bring. More war? It sure looks that way. And if Trump becomes President of America again … God help us all.

I can’t believe that war is now part of our lives. If the leaders of the world don’t come to their senses there will be more war for sure. And in many more parts of the world. The people that are trusted to be running the democratic countries of the world are trying to dance between the light and the dark side. This does not work. They need to make a choice and pick a side.

If Russia wins this war the evil will spread. How can this even be an option?!

This week the US Congress will vote on further aid for Ukraine – that is my understanding. If the US stops supporting Ukraine the war will not stop. Ukraine will continue pushing back the Russians, and Russia is not going to call it a day. There evil knows no limits. But Russia has far more resources and people (mostly zombies actually) and Ukraine will endure more pain and loss.

I can’t understand why some politicians in America do not want to support Ukraine. If Ukraine falls, it will bring Russia into direct conflict with NATO and hence, America (if one believes in NATO … Putin doesn’t, is my bet). Anyone you speak to here in Poland all have the same view. Ask someone in the street here about the war and they all have the same response, “If Ukraine falls we are next”. There is an anxiety here for sure. WW III remains a real possibility.

If more people in America, for example, understood more about modern Ukraine then perhaps the challenge of providing funding for Ukraine would be a bit easier. Ukraine is worth fighting for. It is a gift to the world. And Ukraine is fighting for the world. If Ukraine falls, it will not stop there. As Prof. McFaul at Stanford keeps saying, “Congress should approve new aid to Ukraine as fast as possible—not as a gesture of charity for Ukraine but as a hard-nosed and clear-headed investment in U.S. security objectives.”

Ukraine deserve and needs a more enlightened conversation in the world – the stereotypes are so bad, and they have gotten even worse since the start of the war (because of all the TV news coverage which generally show the worst of Ukraine). Kyiv, the nation’s capital, for example, has beauty, eccentricity, magic. It is often referred to as “the next Berlin”. And yet, most people can’t even tell you where Ukraine is on a map.

I dig Alex Garland – he is an ace storyteller and filmmaker. I am keen to see this movie when it comes out next year. Sadly, I think it is not far from the current reality. If Trump is not re-elected end of next year, then I reckon this film is right on the money. And if Trump does become President again, then God help us all. This of course is my view and I may be totally wrong.