Sometimes I am genuinely surprised by how unfair the modern world can be.

I am a citizen of the Russian Federation living abroad. I have money that I earned through honest work. Yet today, I face enormous difficulties when I simply want to transfer my own money from Russia to another country.

The reasons include international sanctions, banking restrictions, and the disconnection of certain Russian banks from SWIFT.

I understand why sanctions were introduced against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. I understand the intention to restrict the financial resources available to a country waging war.

But there is one question I struggle to answer.

**Why do ordinary people face enormous obstacles when trying to access their own money, while powerful governments continue making economic agreements with one another?**

On October 9, 2026, US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Russia to supply diesel fuel to American and global markets. The US administration temporarily eased certain sanctions restrictions to make this possible.

The contrast is striking.

For an ordinary citizen, transferring legally earned money can become an almost impossible task.

But when major economic interests are involved, exceptions to sanctions suddenly become possible.

And this makes me think about a much broader problem.

## The Moral Cost of Modern Technology

I use artificial intelligence every day. ChatGPT from OpenAI and Claude from Anthropic have become important tools in my work on software, electronics, and my own projects.

I genuinely appreciate these technologies.

But lately, I have found it increasingly difficult to feel comfortable paying subscriptions to American companies.

Not because I blame OpenAI or Anthropic for the political decisions of the US government. Companies and governments are not the same thing.

Rather, I do not want my money to support the economy of a country whose current foreign policies increasingly conflict with my understanding of fairness and respect for human rights.

I understand that paying for a subscription does not directly finance specific political decisions. Nevertheless, for me, it remains a question of personal principles.

And there is another problem.

If I stop using American technologies, where should I turn?

China?

China is developing powerful AI models. However, international organizations have repeatedly documented serious human rights concerns in the country.

At the same time, China continues trading extensively with Russia, including purchasing Russian energy resources during the war in Ukraine.

So even when I look for technological alternatives, I encounter similar moral contradictions.

## Why Do We Have So Little Choice?

I live in Europe, and I want to believe that advanced technologies can flourish in countries where human rights, international law, and individual freedoms are genuine priorities.

That is why I would love to see many more strong European companies building competitive artificial intelligence models.

Some already exist. France's Mistral AI, for example, is developing advanced AI models.

But I want European technologies to become fully competitive with American and Chinese solutions in terms of quality, capabilities, and usability.

I am not looking for a perfect country. Such a country probably does not exist.

I simply want a choice.

**I want to be able to pay for the technologies I use without feeling morally conflicted about the policies of the country whose economy benefits from my money.**

And I want the right to access legally earned money to depend on an individual's own lawful actions, rather than simply their nationality or the political interests of governments.

These are my political principles.

For me, human rights, individual freedom, equality before the law, and personal responsibility should matter more than economic interests or political deals.

That is why I would like to address European developers, entrepreneurs, and investors:

**Please build powerful technologies here in Europe. Give people the opportunity to choose not only the best product, but also the principles they are willing to support with their money.**

Because in the future, competition between technology companies should not only be about model performance.

It should also be about earning people's trust.