It is Friday, and another blur of a week comes to a close. I hope these few funny things make you smile. But what is not so funny is the lack of values in the world today. Money seems to be the only true religion. And greed is the explanation. So many companies continue to do business in Russia and that is not funny.

https://leave-russia.org/

I am on the long train again tonight. It was a busy time here at home in Kyiv. We are working on our film project – we are close to the end. There is so much to do. It has been a long and intense journey. The film is in good shape, but we have many curve balls and challenges. This is the most purposeful project I have ever worked on. Please God it makes a difference.

The weather in Kyiv has been good and of course the recent news from America has lifted everyone spirits. So the city was busy and buzzing. For a few moments this past week it almost felt like things were normal, but of course, nothing is normal here. There is nothing normal about air raid sirens and bomb shelters. Just about every day/night some city (often multiple cities) in Ukraine is under attack. God knows when this madness will end. And how come so much of the world still does business with Russia?! I just don’t get it. What more do people need to witness for them to go “Those guys are evil.” How many more Ukrainians have to suffer for someone to finally go “Enough!”

It is always sad to leave Kyiv, but I will be back again soon. The mood was more upbeat than a month ago, but yes, people are exhausted and anxious. For men that are eligible for the military this is a big source of stress. Everyone wants to help their country but not everyone wants to shoot a gun. I have many friends here that are on edge. One of the main heartaches is the uncertain future. How can anyone plan anything – on one knows what is going to happen. We all believe Ukraine will not disappear, but at what cost will this freedom come?

I was reading a comment from a journalist in Kyiv which made a lot of sense, “Though the war seems bleak now, it’s not hopeless, especially when considering the first days of the full-scale invasion and Kyiv’s refusal to fall.”

Slava Ukraini !

Finally, the Americans did the right thing. There is hope on the horizon. Tomorrow I am on the long train ride heading to Kyiv. I can’t wait to get back home, again. The mood in Ukraine will be different – spirits lifted through the night.

The House vote right now in support of new aid to Ukraine was 311 vs 112 (one present) . This vote is almost exactly what it was last September. For all those of you who claimed that support for Ukraine was fading in the House, you were wrong. – Michael McFaul

It should have been unanimous. What Russia is doing is pure evil. There is no other side of the story. Ukraine is fighting for freedom and has truth on its side. Yes, Ukraine has many problems which need to be sorted out, but Ukraine’s heart is in the right place.

Last weekend Iran launched a massive attack on Israel. My parents are from Israel and Israel is a part of my life too. It is good that America, the UK and other countries helped Israel, and thank God the pain and destruction was minimal. But Ukraine gets attacked like this every week, and it feels like no one in America and the West cares. Of course, I hope I am wrong.

In a recent Washington Post article it spoke of the US requesting Ukraine to stop targeting Russian oil refineries. The concern is that it could raise global energy prices. How about asking the Russians to stop sending missiles and drones to Ukraine. The concern is that could cause people to die.

I don’t see too many Republicans arguing that Israel should disarm as a strategy to get Israel and Iran to negotiate a peace settlement. But you do often see lots of Republicans argue that Ukraine should disarm as a strategy to get Ukraine and Russia to negotiate a peace settlement.

Israel is not in NATO but US and UK fighter jets helped shoot down Iranian drones. These are the same Shahed drones that Russia keeps attacking Ukraine with. Ukraine can’t even get a Patriot air defense system from America. People are suffering in Ukraine. Millions have had their way of life destroyed, been displaced, and everyday the pain and destruction continues.

This is not a blog piece about Israel, but about Ukraine.

One thing is for sure, nukes are going to be on the rise. Any country with nukes will be treated mildly if they break international law. This is what we have seen with Russia. So for sure, expect more nukes in the world, not less. This all could have been avoided, in my view, if America and the West simply armed Ukraine properly. There was actually a contract in place called the Budapest Memorandum, but it seems that these contracts aren’t worth the paper they are written on. If people in Estonia, for example, think a piece of paper is going to protect them from a Russian attack then they are naive. Again, that is my view. NATO is weak, and Russia can see this. Russia will not stop unless they are stopped.

I follow a bunch of people online (mainly on Twitter) like Anne Applebaum, Timothy Snyder, Bill Browder, Michael McFaul, etc. Yes, they are all very smart people who understand exactly that Russia is evil and that Ukraine needs weapons etc. But I feel more and more they are all talking to themselves. Where is the help from the America and the West? When is this madness going to end? Nothing seems to change – they can make Tweets all day, and write articles in the FT, The Atlantic, Economist, get interviewed on CNN, etc. but nothing is changing when it comes to support for Ukraine. Just story after story, and the endless delays. It just makes no sense. And it is cruel and unfair.