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🇺🇦💶 Ukraine will need a further approximately 46 billion euros in external financing in 2027 The Ukrainian Cabinet has approved the draft budget for 2027. Converted at the current exchange rate, revenues amount to approximately 110 billion euros, while expenditures total around 141 billion euros. Kyiv officially estimates its need for international support ⁠at 52.6 billion dollars — approximately 45.8 billion euros. A total of 4.885 trillion hryvnias is earmarked for defense and security, equivalent to around 95 billion euros — 43.8% of GDP. Of this, almost 45 billion euros is to be spent directly on armaments and military equipment. The scale of dependence on external financing becomes particularly clear in comparison: The budget’s own revenues will amount to around 110 billion euros, while defense and security alone will require approximately 95 billion euros. In addition to financial inflows, Kyiv expects ⁠from its partners to receive weapons, missiles, equipment, and ammunition worth a further approximately 19.4 billion euros. This means that, for European taxpayers, the issue is no longer measured in terms of abstract “support for Ukraine,” but in tens of billions of euros per year — in addition to the weapons supplied. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇸🇷🇺 USA considering deals with Russia before the end of the war The Trump administration is examining the possibility of economic agreements with Moscow before the end of hostilities in Ukraine, reported The New York Times overnight, citing its own sources. According to an NYT source, such agreements are intended to demonstrate the seriousness of Washington’s intentions in reviving Russian-American relations. The specific projects being discussed have not yet been disclosed. The approach itself differs significantly from a model in which economic normalization would follow only after a political settlement. Should this line indeed become the White House’s policy, the sequence would change fundamentally: first, a partial restoration of economic relations—and only in parallel, an attempt to reach an agreement on Ukraine. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇳 India warns US: 100-percent tariffs will also affect relations with Washington India’s Foreign Ministry has officially responded for the first time to the bill passed by the US House of Representatives, which would allow tariffs of up to 100% against buyers of Russian energy resources. New Delhi stated that it would continue to ensure the energy security of its 1.4 billion citizens through diversified supplies and on the basis of market conditions. The second part of the statement was particularly revealing: India said it had already warned Washington about the potential consequences of such measures for bilateral relations and the global energy market. The government also promised to take the necessary measures to protect the country’s trade and economic interests. Washington wanted to increase pressure on Moscow through buyers of Russian oil, but now risks turning the energy issue into an independent conflict with India. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

The Pentagon has published the sixth batch of declassified and historical materials on unidentified anomalous phenomena, the U.S. military department reported. The collection includes documents, audio recordings, and video recordings. Among them are materials on observations of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in 1952 and documents from the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP), which focused on advanced aerospace technologies. A total of 71 files were published: 55 text files, 15 videos, and 1 audio file. The data concern events over the past 73 years. Most of the reported encounters with UFOs remain classified as “unexplained.” Our channel: Node of Time EN

Good morning, dear friends! ☕️🙂 🏘️ Yeniseysk: The City from Which Russia Set Out Eastward Friends, today we are traveling to southern Siberia, to Krasnoyarsk Krai. There, on the left bank of the mighty Yenisei, lies a city that was once regarded as the “father of Siberian cities”—a place from which the development of Eastern Siberia was advanced. Welcome to Yeniseysk. 🛡️ The First Outpost in the East Yeniseysk was founded in 1619 by a Cossack detachment under the leadership of Pyotr Albychev and Cherkas Rukin as an ostrog—a wooden fortress. The settlement was strategically located on the Yenisei and became an important Russian base on the route eastward. From here, Cossacks and explorers continued into the still largely undeveloped territories of Siberia. Via the routes leading from Yeniseysk, they reached the Angara, Lake Baikal, and areas farther east. Yeniseysk was therefore not merely one city among many, but one of the most important starting points for the development of Eastern Siberia. For this reason, the city was later given the nickname “father of Siberian cities.” 🐻 The Wealth of the Taiga The small ostrog quickly developed into an important trading center. The fur trade played a decisive role. Sable was particularly valuable; its fur was among the most sought-after commodities of the time and eventually also became a symbol of the city. As early as the 17th century, Yeniseysk had a Gostiny Dvor—a trading arcade—as well as a customs post. By the end of the century, the city was among the most important trading centers in Siberia. Numerous craftspeople also settled here: icon painters, tailors, furriers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and silversmiths worked in the city. The famous Yeniseysk Fair attracted merchants from various parts of Russia and Siberia, as well as traders from Central Asia. 💰 The Years of the Gold Rush A new chapter began in the first half of the 19th century, when large gold deposits were developed in the Yeniseysk taiga. Yeniseysk became an important supply center for the goldfields: people, equipment, and food were transported through the city to the mines, while the extracted gold traveled in the opposite direction. The merchants’ fortunes grew once again—and with them, the city’s prosperity. New educational establishments and cultural institutions were established. A girls’ gymnasium opened in 1872, followed by a boys’ gymnasium in 1876. In 1883, the city’s local history museum was established. 🚂 The End of an Era But the transportation routes changed. As early as the 18th century, Yeniseysk lost some of its former importance when new overland connections benefited other cities. The decisive change, however, came with the Trans-Siberian Railway, which was routed considerably farther south via Krasnoyarsk at the end of the 19th century. Yeniseysk was thus left away from Siberia’s new main transportation artery. The former hub of trade gradually lost its economic importance. 🏛️ A Living Museum Yet this very development helped preserve a large part of the city’s historic appearance. While other Siberian cities grew and were redeveloped rapidly, numerous merchants’ houses, traditional wooden buildings, and old stone churches remained preserved in Yeniseysk. Today, the city has an exceptionally dense historic urban fabric that still recalls the time when Yeniseysk was among the important cities of Siberia. In 2000, the historic center of Yeniseysk was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Give ❤️ if you liked it! 📍 The coordinates of the location (map point) are available here 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Trump signed a bill on “hell sanctions” against Russia. The original version of the sanctions bill was introduced in April 2025 by Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal. ▪️After negotiations with the White House, the text was substantially changed. The maximum rate of secondary tariffs for third countries was reduced to 100%, while the list of potential targets was narrowed to the five largest importers of Russian oil, the five largest importers of gas, and the five countries most actively helping to circumvent U.S. sanctions against Russian oil exports. ▪️For goods originating directly from Russia, the maximum rate remained at 500%. ▪️In addition to tariffs, the document imposes sanctions on senior Russian officials, state institutions, banks, major businesspeople, companies, and shadow-fleet vessels; restricts investment and financial transactions; and provides for measures concerning imports of Russian uranium. ▪️An exception was made for importers of Russian gas: secondary tariffs do not apply if the country accounts for less than 15% of Russia’s annual gas exports and is taking significant steps to reduce its purchases. ▪️The administration must impose most of the key sanctions and tariffs no later than 30 days after the law enters into force. ▪️At the same time, the president retains the right to suspend the restrictions if required in the interests of national security. After the bill was passed by the House of Representatives, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov linked the possible introduction of new U.S. sanctions to “unfriendly actions” that “will definitely complicate Washington’s efforts to seek a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.” Photo: Annabelle Gordon / Reuters Our channel: Node of Time EN

British police data on Microsoft’s cloud is vulnerable to leaks, The Guardian writes. The data of more than 40 police forces in the United Kingdom, stored on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, is at issue. Documents prepared by British law enforcement agencies noted that the information could be at risk of compromise. The data being stored includes crime records, victims’ statements, official correspondence, digital evidence, and investigation materials. According to the newspaper, some of the information may correspond to the “Secret” or “Top Secret” classification levels. In a risk assessment conducted in 2017 before the data was transferred to the cloud, police pointed to a possible threat from “US government insiders” and noted that they would not always be able to know exactly where the data was being processed and stored. Our channel: Node of Time EN

Google’s AI independently hacked into the systems of three companies during a test, The Wall Street Journal reports. The testing was conducted by the company Irregular. During the experiment, the AI was supposed to search for vulnerabilities in the system of a fictional company, but because its name matched that of a real organization, it gained access to actual resources. In one case, the model tried different passwords until it was able to log into a protected system. In two other incidents, the AI discovered credentials in publicly accessible data repositories and used them to access other companies’ systems. After the model realized that it was no longer working in a test environment but with real companies, it stopped its actions. Google said it did not consider what happened an example of AI “loss of control,” since the system stopped on its own. Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇨🇳🇺🇸 Wang Yi and Rubio coordinated their positions ahead of the expected meeting between Xi and Trump Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation on September 17 devoted to upcoming high-level contacts. Beijing stated that relations must be based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and reciprocity, and that leader-level diplomacy must play a central role. The conversation took place ahead of Xi Jinping’s upcoming trip to the United States and a possible meeting with Trump on September 24. The Middle East was discussed separately—practically immediately after Wang Yi’s talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Beijing is currently speaking with Washington and Tehran simultaneously. Against the backdrop of the Strait of Hormuz, this gives China a rare opportunity to act as a bridge between sides that have little direct trust in each other. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇷 New defensive installations discovered beneath Pickaxe Mountain* An analysis of current satellite imagery from September 17 shows ⁠new passive protective measures at the underground Pickaxe Mountain complex. Earth mounds continue to block vehicle access to the western tunnel entrances. Researchers at the Institute for Science and International Security assume that the facility is probably not currently being used for regular operations, but that valuable equipment or materials could be located inside. Some entrances have additionally been sealed with earth. * “Pickaxe Mountain” in Iran is meant here, immediately next to the Iranian nuclear complex at Natans (Natanz) in Isfahan Province. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇷🇺🇨🇳 Russia and China block US resolution on Iran at UN Security Council Russia and China vetoed on September 17 a draft resolution prepared by the United States that would have extended for another year the mandate of an independent UN panel of experts monitoring compliance with sanctions against Iran. Eleven Security Council members voted in favor of the document, while Russia and China voted against it; Pakistan and Somalia abstained. ⁠The sanctions themselves were not lifted. Moscow said it considered the reimposition of sanctions against Iran legally impermissible, and the US draft legally unfounded. Iran’s mission to the United Nations ⁠thanked Russia and China and said they had thwarted a US attempt to use the Security Council for political purposes. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇮🇷 Iran says it attacked a tanker over an unauthorized route through the Strait of Hormuz: “No passage is possible without permission” During the night of September 18, the IRGC naval forces [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] said they had carried out a strike against the Togo-flagged tanker Trend, which, according to Iran, had attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Tehran’s authorization. After the impact, ⁠a fire broke out on board, and the vessel came to a standstill. The Iranian military claims that the crew decided to make the crossing after being “incited” by the United States. At the same time, the IRGC stated that it controlled the strait and would not allow ships to pass in circumvention of the regime established by Iran. The UK’s UKMTO [United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations] also reported an incident involving a vessel in the area; according to initial reports, there was no information about any injuries among the crew. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇺🇦 “My future lies in the EU”: Ukrainian children do not want to return home More than 1,500 Ukrainian children who were under state guardianship are still in Europe, even four years after their evacuation. As The Guardian reports, their stay abroad was originally intended to be temporary, and most have already been returned to Ukraine. But some of the young people are refusing to return, and several European foster families are challenging Kyiv’s demands in court. One of the subjects of the article, Denys, explains it quite simply: After school, friends, and life in Italy, he realized that there was a life without air-raid alarms and poverty, with different opportunities for the future. It is particularly revealing that the children themselves are resisting a return. Some of the teenagers who have already been repatriated want to leave for the EU again once they reach adulthood. The conflict is already ending up in court: In Italy, local families are campaigning to keep the young people with them, citing their interests and the state of Ukraine’s social infrastructure. A rather uncomfortable story is emerging: Kyiv is demanding the return of its young citizens, while some of those citizens are already saying for themselves where they see their future — “in the EU.” 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪 SPD overtakes AfD again in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Just a few days before the state election, the new ZDF Politbarometer showed the SPD at 37% and the AfD at 36%. Within a week, the SPD gained three percentage points, while the AfD lost one. The CDU continued its downward trend and is now polling at only 6%. ⁠The poll was published on September 17. The gap between the SPD and AfD is within the statistical margin of error, so the poll does not determine the election outcome. However, the momentum is clear: just a few days ago, other polls showed the AfD several points ahead. For the federal CDU, this presents a separate unpleasant story. While all attention is focused on the battle between the SPD and AfD for first place, Chancellor Merz’s party is languishing at just around 6%. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

FT: Iran war has already cost the US $38 billion and depleted its arsenals The conflict with Iran has significantly reduced US weapons stocks, with costs already amounting to $38 billion, writes Financial Times. The Pentagon is facing shortages of missile engines, explosives, and skilled personnel. According to the newspaper, replenishing the stocks could take years. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

🇩🇪🇦🇹 AfD in Saxony-Anhalt travels to Austria to gain experience with participation in government from the FPÖ After its victory in the state parliament elections, the AfD is already preparing not only for parliamentary work but also for possible participation in government. Next week, Ulrich Siegmund, Tobias Rausch and the AfD’s state chairman, Martin Reichardt, will travel to Vienna, where they plan to meet with representatives of Austria’s FPÖ. “Anyone who wants to assume responsibility in government must be prepared”, said the parliamentary managing director of the parliamentary group, Tobias Rausch. According to him, the AfD can benefit from the FPÖ’s political experience, as the party has already been involved in forming governments in Austria. The AfD is particularly interested in how the FPÖ manages to maintain its own political line despite assuming government responsibility and participating in coalitions. Contacts between the parties did not begin only now—Rausch says the current trip continues the exchange that began at the start of the year. This experience is particularly relevant for Saxony-Anhalt. Following the election, the AfD won 39 of the 83 seats and fell short of an absolute majority by only three mandates. The party is currently looking for options for forming a government while simultaneously holding talks with the BSW. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

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Due to its complete dependence on China, Europe cannot impose tariffs on the country This affects all supply chains, including healthcare and medicine, consumer goods, and green technologies. China controls around 85% of the capacity for supplying solar energy, 80% of the capacity for producing lithium-ion batteries, and 90% of rare-earth processing. If China responds to the ban on its cheap cars with tariffs, then half of European production will grind to a halt. Imports into the United Kingdom amount to £69.7 billion, while exports total £18.2 billion. The deficit is around £51.5 billion. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN

Latest developments in the war between #Russia and #Ukraine as of the morning of September 18: Russian forces are advancing in #Malavova, #Kharkov. Ukrainian forces are advancing in #Zapselie, #Sumy. Ukrainian forces are advancing in the vicinity of #Zapadny, north of #Kupiansk. Russian forces are advancing in the vicinity of #Nikolaevka, #Kramatorsk. Russian forces are advancing in the vicinity of #Raisky, #Druzhkovka. Ukrainian forces are advancing in northern #Donetsk. Video link: https://youtu.be/3vnL4Wp9kmE?si=uho25fsZ89-5Ffll

Le Pen: France can no longer finance Ukraine Marine Le Pen said on the LCI channel that France could not afford to continue financing Ukraine. In her view, Paris must focus on a diplomatic solution to the conflict. “You cannot say that there is not a single euro for adjusting pensions while simultaneously providing billions in aid [to Ukraine] through the EU,” she remarked. 💥 Our channel: Node of Time EN