The Bunster are I were out for a walk in beautiful Kyiv three years ago to this date. That was our last peaceful time in Ukraine’s magical capital. The next day, on February 24, everything changed. Russia began its evil full scale invasion of Ukraine. No one I knew in Kyiv believed it would happen – we were all wrong. And from then on I knew that anything was possible. I predicted Trump would become America’s president again, and I fear that a bigger war is coming.

The Bunster has lived in 4 counties and speaks 3 languages and is still innocent albeit a bit naughty. This little man has helped us to get through these horrible and traumatic 3 years. We pray he never knows from war, but sadly, I don’t believe that will be the case.

Here in London we hear Russians everywhere. There must be so many Russians in the UK. And yes, we are not fond of Russians. If the world got to together and cut Russia off, this war would have ended very quickly. If Paris, for example, was attacked, just once, the world would condemn Russia and they would not be welcome anywhere. But Ukraine has been bombed constantly for 3 years and from my perspective the world just watches. Yes, of course, many countries are helping Ukraine, but it is not enough. Europe either wakes up and steps up, or bigger problems are coming, to everyone.

If Russia sends missiles sent to Poland, for example, then I don’t believe America will do a thing to stop it. They will say that Poland brought it upon themselves because they have been supporting Ukraine. And I said “America will not stop it”, not “Trump will not stop it”. America is behind Trump. Make no mistake. Maybe not every single one of them, but most. It is like Trump has cast a spell over them or something. Whatever the reason, things have changed, and Ukrainians do not trust Americans any more.

I hope I am wrong about all of these things. And I hope the war does end this year.

Slava Ukraini.

One of the magical things about life that I so much appreciate are the tender moments when the Bunster lies next to me in bed, before he goes to sleep, and is in a chatty mood. What comes out of his mouth is often so colourful and sometimes it is quite emotional.

Earlier this week I was putting our little man to sleep, and I was in the bed with him, and he was cuddled up close to me. And he suddenly pipes up with “Daddy, are you going to die?” I was silent for a bit and then gently explained to the Bun man that everyone dies at some point. I told him not to worry. I said I will not die anytime soon. He then says to me “If you die I will cry forever.” I did shed a few tears after that.

I was texting with a friend in the US this week. We were discussing the world of crypto and this blog piece captures some of the highlights of our text chat.

So often a discussion with a crypto person feels like a pump & dump conversation. It is like everyone is trying to find a greater fool to help keep the price high.

A case in point with the American President. His $TRUMP crypto currency has raised billions, and it seems like one big ploy to get rich off dumb people. Also, it presents a new way you can bribe him while maintaining plausible deniability.

I don’t really understand the world of crypto. Well, not any more. But it sounds like anyone can make up a new virtual currency. The success is a matter of marketing. Dogecoin, for example, was created as a joke by some guy who was trying to show how absurd it is. Musk decided to promote it and now it is worth $50 billion.

Trump and Melania both have cryptocurrencies. $TRUMP and $MELANIA. That is what they should put on their gravestones.

I am pretty sure the people in Greenland are walking around like the people in Ukraine back in February 2022. I was there in Ukraine and I too did not believe there would be a full scale Russian invasion. But it happened.

Anything is possible from next week. If America annexes Greenland it would be highly unlikely, but it could just happen.

This pic below is from London. Sloane Square to be precise. And this sign is on the inside of the entrance door of an apartment building of a family friend of ours.

We keep hearing about cars being stolen and about the increase in mobile phone smash and grabs. Bunster and I were in a Tesco a couple of weeks ago and saw a guy get tackled to the ground for shoplifting, and Bunster got a fright. I did too. We saw another shoplifting incident at the same Tesco a week later, but that one was more gentle.

My understanding is that the crime rate here is on the rise. But just about everyone tells us that this is a relatively safe place to be.

I am getting to know a comedian who often posts interesting things. His name is Anton.

Anton is part of a team that made a film called Comedy of War – have a look at their trailer. I recently watched the film and I thought it was beautiful and tender. A moving story about the healing power of laughter. Anton is a comedian from Kyiv. And there is nothing funny now about life in Ukraine.

This is a post that Anton recently made :

Americans deserve Trump. I hope in Europe also conspiracy populists will win next elections and you will all live in chaos with your foil hats. I’m just tired to see how uncomfortable to you the fact that Ukrainians are still alive and fighting. I’m sorry for this, I know you’ve spent so many nerves on it and I realise nerves can’t be restored.

This is so fun to see your hypocrisity. You like to talk about democracy or justice on dozens of forums or documentaries but in face of real problem you just concerned and mumbling smth while north korea, iran get into war on russia side. They provide russia with bombs and you provide us with petitions, presentation and memorandums. Thank you, I always knew that Excel spreadsheet is very effective against Iranian drones.

They are killing childrens everyday and UN head shake hands with them. As I understand the best Antonio Guterres can do to stop putin for couple of minutes is masturbate his dick. Masturbate with two fingers because it’s peace sign.

I wish you all to live in conspiracy nonsense you deserve with your own stupidness. You did nothing to stop it. You didn’t change your lifestyle to face new reality like we in Ukraine do. It would be much better if you all were authoritarian regimes. In this case you will release us from listening your hypocrisy shit how concerned you are. Just say “we don’t fucking care” and live your life. I had so many interviews with foreign journalists about “culture and humour during war”, cause that’s my topic. And all your questions, journalists, made me fell that I speak with 9-years old kids who is writing essay for school. You should stop reading your high-educated books and listening podcasts about liberalism problems. Just open your fucking eyes and see the war and then just to do the right thing.

Much of what Anton says here resonates with me, sadly. What a world we are living in. No one seems to care. Greed is the driving force of the world. That is my view – I pray I am very wrong.

One week ago the chaos was chosen. The irony of it all. Trump’s next presidency will see the rich getting richer and the rest getting squeezed more than ever. Minimum wage going up … forget about it. And another irony: the people that voted for Trump … he could care less about them. The biggest question I have sometimes asked myself: what does Trump actually care about? Besides himself that is. Well, we will all find out soon. Or we may not. He sounds crazy so often, so perhaps he is just that, a crazy narcissist.

Trump has no class and he is a bullshit artist. A business wizard he is not. But enough of this. The mainstream liberal media is already letting rip, and they are losing more and more eyeballs. What a fruit salad.

The difference between Trump and the Democrats, in my cynical view … not much. Neither of them actually care. The Democrats just pretend to care. Trump doesn’t pretend. He just shoots from the hip-replacement, and tells so many lies and makes up so many things, that he is more about chaos than anything else. Seems that lies are a bit part of modern life on social media, so perhaps it all just fits the bill.

Ukraine is the perfect example. If Biden really cared then how is it that Ukraine has only received 10% of the weapons that were promised this year, according to Zelensky. This actually raises an interesting point. If Trump cuts off aid to Ukraine would it even make a difference. Ukraine is getting hardly anything so if Trump cuts off the little they are getting it is not like Ukraine will be losing a big brother. There is even some thinking going around in Kyiv that perhaps Trump may shake things up, and that could lead to some change. Will it be a good change … time will tell. Uncertainty is the new norm, unfortunately.

Wow, 2025 is going to be a roller-coaster. I reckon inflation is going to up a notch or two. The checks and balances that apparently used to be in place are about to go the window in the US – it looks like a free for all.

The biggest war that will one day face us all is going to be between the haves and the have nots. The wealth gap is off the charts, and under Trump it is going to get worse. Greed is why Trump became the president again, and greed is coming to bite us all in the ass.

Greed is the reason. Money, money, money. God help America, and the world.

Ukraine is often branded as a place of corruption and gangsters, and Hollywood doesn’t help when it makes the villains Ukrainian. After living in Kyiv for years, I’ve experienced something very different. The country I know is filled with talented, hardworking, and warm people who possess an incredible sense of humor. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, oo many people think Ukraine is nothing but a war zone.

I recently heard Mstyslav Chernov, the director of the Oscar-winning documentary “20 Days in Mariupol,” say that Americans often ask, “Is there more to Ukraine than the war?” I’ve had similar frustrating conversations abroad, with people asking, “Is that war still going on?”

https://kyivindependent.com/opinion-theres-more-to-ukraine-than-hollywood-gangster-tropes-and-war/