Nearly all the heads of states in the Western Hemisphere have witnessed their popularity decline gradually, and it's almost inconceivable to contemplate the extent of its deterioration. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/55362
I would respectfully suggest that this decline is in part a direct result of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which commenced in February 2022. In the context of the war, it is important to note that it began in 2014, when Crimea was annexed, but Russia formally invaded Ukraine on the 24th of February 2022. Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, the global community has witnessed a significant shift in international relations. Policies that have maintained the global world order have been inadvertently compromised by its main protagonists.
Since 2022, the West has imposed over 26,000 sanctions on Russia. On 7th August 2026, the US Senate approved the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. This comprehensive bipartisan package was approved with an 86-11 vote. On 18th September 2026, President Trump signed the bill into law. Russia, recognizing the potential of Western sanctions, has instituted targeted sanctions against specific nations. Additionally, it has prohibited airlines from over 30 countries, including all EU members and the UK, from using their airspace. This has led to Western carriers taking more expensive, longer flights routes to Asia.
On the 7th of February 2022, former US President Joe Biden held a press conference with then German Chancellor Schloz, where they talked about Russia invading Ukraine. President Joe Biden then stated "If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it. "When asked how, the president says, "I promise you, we will be able to do that." This information can be found at https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.c-span.org .
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), was signed into law on 16th August 2022. This was partly done to entice European manufacturing companies to relocate to the United States, in order to benefit from this scheme. And thus, depriving Europe of taxes and employment opportunities for its people. The lack of cheap piped Russian gas forced the German manufacturers to absorb higher operational expenses or relocate production abroad. On 5th October 2022, former German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, accused the US and other friendly gas supplier states of astronomical prices for their supplies, suggesting they were profiting from the fallout from the war in Ukraine. Russia is a member of the OPEC+ consortium. Prior to 2022, Russia had a significant export of nearly 65% of oil, gas and broader fuel energy products to the global market. Any decrease in this percentage could potentially have significant implications on the energy sector.
It is imperative to bear in mind that our everyday activities are largely dependent on oil, gas, and the broader fuel energy products. This is a part of the global supply chain that should not be compromised. The sanctioning of both Russia and Iran has had unintended consequences globally. According to Kpler, in the previous month, the United States provided 420,000 barrels of diesel to EU member countries and the UK, representing more than half of the total imports that month. Europe has increasingly relied on the United States for diesel, particularly since the Strait of Hormuz was closed. Recently, Politico reported that the White House is envisaging a 90-day ban on diesel exports, an action that could potentially create a significant void in Europe. If this report is indeed accurate, it would be a strategic move by President Trump as the duration would encompass the Midterm elections in the US, thereby stabilising the fuel price, to regain the support of the voters for the Republican Party.
We have been witnessing a significant shift in the political dynamics in the West, and it is quite remarkable to observe a sea change in the UK, France, Germany, and other Western capitals. The Far Right and progressive political parties are experiencing a significant surge in momentum, owing to the disillusionment of voters. The corruption scandals in Ukraine does not help either. We have read about the golden toilet seats and many millions of dollars allegedly mismanaged. Around 72% of Ukrainians believe President Volodymyr Zelensky bears personal political responsibility for corruption among his associates, according to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) published on Sept. 28 2026.https://kyivindependent.com
The established political parties have been leaning towards seeing Russia's demise at the expense of their domestic policies. Ukraine has been the primary focus and centre of attention in all Western capitals, and billions of dollars have been invested to ensure Kyiv succeed. Recently, Ukraine has requested an additional 28 billion dollars. According to President Zelenskyy, a total of US$28 billion to finance drones, missiles and military procurement and partly to cover soldiers' pay. "Around one-third of this money, or perhaps even slightly more, is for drones for January, February and March. If we do not place the orders and make payments in October and November, we will face severe challenges in January/February.
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/09/25/8055011
Numerous individuals in the Western world are sympathetic to Ukraine and fervently envision a peaceful return to that country through diplomatic negotiations. However, this cannot be achieved at the expense of their livelihoods. We have witnessed and experienced higher energy costs, the rise in living costs, immigration issues, and job cuts, among other examples. A significant proportion of voters are experiencing identity crises, by switching allegiance to right-wing political parties. This phenomenon has been observed in the US and many European countries. Recently, the AfD in Germany achieved remarkable results in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt elections. Reform UK, meanwhile, also achieved significant success and took control of more councils in England. This shift is not coincidental; it's becoming the norm. Voters no longer care about which party is in power, if their concerns are addressed. This does not necessarily make all of them far-right sympathisers, far from it.
A report was released few days ago, regarding the first meeting between Russian and German diplomats since 2022, that took place on the sidelines at the United Nations General Assembly in the US. The German Minister Foreign Affairs, Johann Wadephul, said in a press conference after that he was open to the Russian President, joining the G20 summit. Some German media outlets are suggesting that this meeting could pave the way for a possible meeting during the G20 summit later this year in Miami, Florida. Is this a sign of rapprochement? The future holds the answer. A significant number of general elections are scheduled in Europe next year, and it is crucial to ensure that the established parties do not suffer significant losses. It is imperative to begin re-aligning their policies towards the needs of the public, specifically, domestic politics.
