Glory to Ukraine!
Glory to the defenders of Ukraine and all modern civilization!
- Inflation is rising in the USA – prices are increasing for everything
- Trump’s visit to China: what to expect amidst the blocked Hormuz Strait and the unsolvable Iranian nuclear issue
▶ On Tuesday, the Bureau of Statistics published official data on inflation in the USA for April. Inflation (that is, the rise in prices) was 3.8% compared to April 2025. In February, inflation was 2.4%. In March, inflation was 3.3%. 3.8% is the highest inflation rate in the USA since April 2023. But then, three years ago, inflation was decreasing. Now it is rising.
The increase in prices for almost everything is caused by the rise in prices for all types of fuel and energy due to the high price of oil. The rise in food prices is caused by high fuel prices, high electricity prices, and a sharp increase in prices for mineral fertilizers.
High prices for oil and fertilizers are due to Iran blocking the Hormuz Strait, through which 20% of the world’s imported oil and 30% of the world’s imported mineral fertilizers pass.
Iran’s blockade of the Hormuz Strait was the result of a war initiated by the USA and Israel against Iran on February 28. Essentially, this is the most visible result of this war to date.
The rise in prices for literally everything contributed to the growth of inflation. The price of gasoline in April rose by another 5.4% compared to March (after a record increase in March). The price of electricity rose by 2.1% in April compared to March – the highest monthly jump in the last four years.
Food prices rose by 0.7% in April compared to March and by 3.6% compared to April 2025. Prices for fresh fruits and vegetables rose by 2.3% in April compared to March – the result of higher diesel fuel prices (they are transported by diesel refrigeration trucks) and electricity (necessary for refrigerators where they are stored). This is a record monthly increase since 2010. Prices for tomatoes rose by 15% for the second consecutive month (another record).
Prices for airline tickets rose by 21% in April. It should be mentioned that the USA and Americans are highly dependent on domestic air travel. The country is large, spanning five time zones.
According to economists cited by CNN, 40% of the inflation growth in March-April is contributed by prices of all types of fuel and energy, which in turn lead to a rise in prices for almost everything, causing a chain reaction across all sectors of the economy in response to higher prices for energy carriers, fuel, electricity, and mineral fertilizers.
Americans will have the opportunity to express their views on the economic aspect of their lives in the Congressional elections on November 3. It is precisely the economic aspect – the perception of their current economic situation and expectations for the future – that has always been and remains the determining factor influencing how voters, especially those called independent voters in the U.S., who are neither politicized nor ideological, make voting decisions that decide the outcome of any election.
In November 2024, they returned Donald Trump to the White House, who promised them to reduce prices for gasoline, eggs, and in general, prices in supermarkets. As the 47th president, he “reduced” them negatively, something all these voters feel acutely today, being forced to pay for their choice in the most literal sense. This conclusion is supported by fresh sociological data. According to a CNN poll published on Monday, prior to the release of April inflation data, 77% of Americans believe that Trump’s policies lead to increased prices and cost of living.
▶ The 47th president went to China, bringing along an entire group of ministers – from finance to defense, the Secretary of State, and leaders and owners of major American companies.
He departed clearly not in the mood and state of mind he intended. He left, repeatedly reciting, like a mantra, several times over the past few days on various TV shows for journalists that he has “great relationships with President Xi,” that “President Xi is my friend.”
Trump postponed the visit by a month, hoping to arrive in Beijing as a victor who achieved Iran’s renunciation of its nuclear program and the unblocking of the Strait of Hormuz.
Departing for China on Tuesday, the 47th president told journalists in response to a question about rising inflation that he is not concerned with the financial state of the U.S., but is only worried about ensuring that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.
However, neither during the active hostilities from February 28 to April 7, nor in the month that Trump postponed his visit to China, did the situation with Iran change. The result of the war was the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran. This was unaffected by the fact that the US sank numerous Iranian military ships and destroyed a large part of Iranian military aviation. General Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, could not clearly answer Senator Dick Durbin’s question in the Senate on Tuesday about how Iran managed to blockade the Strait of Hormuz. Pentagon chief Hegset avoided answering Senator Chris Coons’ question about whether there is a military plan to unblock the strait. Meanwhile, as before the war began on February 28, nearly 500 kg of 60%-enriched uranium remains at Iranian underground nuclear facilities. This uranium is sufficient to create several nuclear bombs. There also remain 10.5 tons of uranium enriched to lower levels. Iran shows no signs of intending to negotiate with the US to remove this uranium from the country and shut down its nuclear program.
Of course, Trump will discuss the Iran issue with Xi. Xi Jinping will likely remind the 47th president that in 2018 Trump withdrew from the JCPOA agreement, under which Iran halted its nuclear program for 10 years, committed not to develop nuclear weapons, and opened its nuclear facilities for continuous IAEA inspections. And that all the enriched uranium—almost 11 tons—was accumulated by Iran after 2018, after Trump withdrew from the JCPOA agreement. At the time of its withdrawal, Iran had only very minor reserves of uranium enriched to 3%, which was allowed by the agreement.
It is hard to say whether the 47th president will find any solution with Xi Jinping’s help. On one hand, China itself suffers from the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. It purchased 90% of Iran’s exported oil (which is 30% of China’s imported oil) and received almost 30% of imported liquefied gas through the same Strait of Hormuz. China’s economy suffers from the high price of oil and the related high prices of all types of fuel and energy, just like the economies of all developed countries. But on the other hand, Iran is an ally of China. And Xi, naturally, cannot help but rejoice at the weakening of the US, the undermining of US authority in the world, and the complicating of US relations with its main and traditional allies. Where the point of equilibrium will be for the Chinese communist dictator on this issue, nobody knows.
Trump, incidentally, does not accidentally call Xi his “friend” and emphasizes “excellent relations” with the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. The 47th president regards all dictators with reverence. But he has a special reverence for Putin and Xi, as he considers them the only strongmen equal to himself, and he dreams of the same unlimited and eternal power. It is important to note that Trump differs in this regard from American right-wing and far-right, who consider China the main geopolitical adversary of the USA. American liberals, incidentally, hold the same view. But here’s an interesting thing. There is a single fundamental divergence between the Republican platform “Project-2025” and the United States National Security Strategy, the official document outlining the administration’s foreign policy, published in December 2025. “Project-2025” traditionally defines China as the main geopolitical adversary of the USA and indicates that the confrontation with China will determine what happens in the coming decades. The National Security Strategy assesses China completely differently. According to this official document, the USA can effortlessly coexist with China, trade, and cooperate with it as long as China does not oppose American interests, which according to the Strategy, mainly involves the ability to sell American products in various regions of the world.
What else will Trump and Xi discuss?
Obviously, about trade. The 47th president did not accidentally bring an entire delegation of American business elites to China. And the visit was mainly prepared by Treasury Secretary Bessent. At the start of his second presidency, Trump tried to compel Xi, through customs tariffs, to buy more American goods. But he completely lost in this trade war. Xi blocked the export of rare earth minerals to the USA, stopped buying soybeans, which harmed American farmers growing them – an important part of Trump’s electoral base. The 47th retreated, and it was after this that he became verbally warmer towards China, began calling Xi a friend, and repeated that he has “excellent relations” with him. Likely, some trade agreement will be concluded following the visit. Possibly, about the unhindered purchase of rare earth minerals by the USA, an increase in China’s purchase of American soybeans, the purchase of Boeing planes by China. In exchange for something from the American side. For example, the complete removal of customs tariffs.
It is also obvious that nuclear weapons will be discussed. China’s participation in negotiations on its limitation. But it is equally obvious that no agreement will be reached here. China refuses to negotiate about its nuclear weapons until it has as many nuclear warheads in its arsenal as the USA and Russia (approximately 1,550 on standby compared to about 600 for China, according to US intelligence estimates). The Pentagon estimates that China plans to increase its number of nuclear warheads to 1,000 by 2030, and further, within a few more years, to match the USA and Russia. Until then, China is unlikely to agree to negotiations on limiting nuclear arms.
Xi will most likely ask Trump to change the wording of American policy on Taiwan. As noted by David Sanger in the New York Times, the US traditionally formulates its policy using the expression “the US does not support Taiwan’s declaration of independence,” while Xi Jinping would like this wording changed to “the US opposes Taiwan’s declaration of independence.”
Another topic that will be discussed is the use and development of artificial intelligence systems, as well as cyber-espionage. These topics are very important. Especially since cyber-espionage can be conducted today using artificial intelligence systems. Whether anything can be agreed upon in this area is hard to say. It depends on the level of experts participating in the negotiations.
That the use of artificial neural networks needs regulation is beyond doubt for me as a specialist in this field. So far, the only institution in the world taking the first steps in this area is the EU, where an AI Act, mandatory for implementation in all 27 EU countries, has been adopted, although it will be introduced gradually over the years.
It seems that no significant results from Trump’s trip to China should be expected in any case. The 47th president is not in a political position to achieve anything from the real main geopolitical opponent, not only of the US but of the entire free, liberal-democratic world.
There are 984 days left until the end of the story titled “Fear: Trump in the White House” © (the title of Bob Woodward’s book published in 2018).
Thank you to everyone who has read this. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Take care of each other, help each other. Health to all.
Ultimately, what happens in the world depends on us. Whether we fight evil, do Good, remain passive observers, wait passively, and believe that someone somewhere will make decisions for us, or fight evil and do everything possible to ensure Good prevails.
We must not allow evil to prevail. Victory of evil would mean the end of the world we live in. We cannot allow this, especially now.
Ukrainian friends, I embrace and love you all. Please take care of each other. I ask you very much.
Ukraine is and always will be.
And evil will be defeated and punished. It is certain.
