Archives Sources

Conservative commentators, politicians distort Biden’s remarks on tanks for Ukraine

Conservative politicians and commentators claim US President Joe Biden defied his own warnings about triggering a third World War with Russia by delivering tanks to Ukraine. But the quote shared as proof has been edited to distort its meaning; Biden said in March 2022 that having "planes and tanks and trains going in with American pilots and American crews" would constitute "World War III."

U.S. Spent Much More in Afghan War Than in Support for Ukraine So Far, Contrary to Online Claim

U.S. Spent Much More in Afghan War Than in Support for Ukraine So Far, Contrary to Online Claim

The U.S. spent more than $849 billion in the 20-year war in Afghanistan and has spent about $113 billion to support Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022. But a video on social media falsely claims that the aid for Ukraine is “double the U.S. expenditure for its own war in Afghanistan.”

Fake: Ukrainian Servicemen Given Vouchers Instead of Salaries

There are no vouchers issued as "payment for service in the Armed Forces of
Ukraine". Russian propagandists took a military bond Ukraine issued in 2014
and created fake, claiming that this document is issued to Ukrainian
military in lieu of salary payments.

Tweets distort Biden’s comments on tanks, Ukraine and World War III

President Joe Biden announced on Jan. 25, 2023, that the U.S. is sending 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.

Earlier in the war, almost a year ago, Biden said, "The idea that we're going to send in offensive equipment and have planes and tanks and trains going in with American pilots and American crews, just understand … that's called 'World War III.'"

A widely shared meme shortened Biden's quote to make it appear as if he said sending tanks alone to Ukraine would cause World War III.

A meme shared in a tweet claimed that in March, Biden said, "The idea that we're going to send in tanks to Ukraine, that's called World War III." Biden announced the U.S. will be sending M1 Abrams tanks about 10 months later.

The quote is edited to leave out the full context of Biden's comments. He said the U.S. would not be sending offensive equipment and planes, tanks and trains with U.S. pilots and crews.

We rate the claim False.

Did Biden Say Sending Tanks to Ukraine Would Cause World War 3?

Did Biden Say Sending Tanks to Ukraine Would Cause World War 3?

In March 2022, Biden said the supply of tanks and other equipment with—crucially— American troops on the ground would amount to what he described as "World War 3".

While the arrival of M1-Abrams tanks to Ukraine is new, the U.S. has funded the upgrade and supply of Soviet-era tanks to Kyiv.

Debunking claims that US Abrams tanks were seen in Poland – Truth or Fake

In a video circulating on social media, some users claim to show American M1 Abrams tanks and military infantry vehicles in Poland, allegedly heading to Ukraine. These false claims began to circulate online on January 25, when President Joe Biden announced that US Abrams tanks would be delivered to Ukraine. We tell you where this video was actually filmed in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Debunking a Ukrainian MP’s strange visit to Thailand – Truth or Fake

Mykola Tyshchenko, a Ukrainian MP, has been expelled from the war-torn country's ruling party over a trip to Thailand earlier this month. The trip came to light through an encounter that was organised with the MP by the Ukrainian embassy in Thailand. Traces of this event were later deleted online. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Manipulation: Ukraine and the West Preparing Terrorist Acts in Crimea

Russian unleashed a full-scale war against Ukraine, occupied Crimea and other territories, thus making Russian military bases located in occupied Crimea legitimate targets for the Ukrainian military. The narrative that "NATO is fighting against Russia" is one of the most widespread Kremlin fakes that Stopfake has repeatedly debunked. Ukraine is standing up to Russian aggression and fighting the Russian invading forces, and not some "collective West".