On October 1, the Veža Center for Public Analytics hosted an online interview with economist Oleh Pendzin, focusing on recent global economic events and their implications for Ukraine.
The first topic addressed was the US government shutdown. The United States once again failed to pass a budget, resulting in a formal suspension of federal funding. Oleh Pendzin noted that such shutdowns have regularly occurred in the US since the 1980s and currently have almost no impact on Ukrainian interests. Financial and military assistance to Ukraine has already been suspended, and most arms contracts are now financed by Europe.
The discussion then shifted to the fuel shortage in Russia. According to the expert, after a series of Ukrainian Armed Forces strikes on Russian oil refineries, gasoline production in Russia fell by 1 million tonnes, and the domestic fuel deficit reached 20%. Russia now has to import gasoline and has introduced rationing via fuel cards. Belarus remains the only notable exporter willing to supply, but logistical challenges complicate these deliveries.
Taiwan was also discussed in detail. Despite Taiwan’s official support for sanctions and its limited financial aid to Ukraine, it became the world’s largest importer of Russian oil in the first half of 2025, paying over $11 billion to Russia—220 times more than its humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Experts point to this as another example of double standards in international politics. Ukraine must continue to defend its own interests, maintaining a pragmatic approach in its relations with all countries.
The main conclusions: the US shutdown is a domestic matter with no significant impact on Ukraine; Russia’s fuel shortage could complicate its economy; and Taiwan's actions exemplify double standards that are now under international discussion.
