Category Aid to Ukraine

Fabricated audio of Trump Jr on Ukraine and Russia, spreads online

Audio purportedly of Donald Trump Jr using his podcast to say the United States should have sent weapons to Russia instead of Ukraine is spreading widely online, with an official Democratic National Committee account among those that shared and deleted it. But the clip is fake, spokesmen for the US president's son and video platform Rumble told AFP. A media forensics expert said the quote -- which is not in the original episode -- appears to be the product of artificial intelligence technology. [...]

"The audio in question, which was amplified by the official X account of the DNC, along with countless other major anti-Trump accounts, is 100 percent fake," a Trump Jr spokesman told AFP in a February 26 statement. "It appears to be an AI-generated deep fake."

Read MoreFabricated audio of Trump Jr on Ukraine and Russia, spreads online

Fake video claims Trump Jr. said US should have sent weapons to Russia, not Ukraine | Snopes.com

The video was digitally created, likely using AI-powered software to generate synthetic audio mimicking Trump Jr.'s voice.

Read MoreFake video claims Trump Jr. said US should have sent weapons to Russia, not Ukraine | Snopes.com

Dictator without elections’?: fact-checking Trump’s main criticisms of Zelensky

In mid-February 2025, Donald Trump multiplied his attacks against Volodymyr Zelensky, branding the Ukrainian president a "dictator without elections," questioning the use of American aid to Ukraine, and accusing him of "starting" the war. Here is a look back at these statements, which were false, misleading or unsubstantiated according to AFP's analysis, revealing unprecedented tensions between Washington and Kyiv.

Read MoreDictator without elections’?: fact-checking Trump’s main criticisms of Zelensky

Fact Check: Did Ukraine ‘Psychological Warfare’ Unit Get $140M From USAID?

False.

Audited records of Congressionally appropriated Ukrainian aid show most of what USAID manages is Kyiv's government budget, which funds its public sector workers, social services, pensions, and internally displaced persons.

For the $140 million claim to have been true, USAID would have had to have paid out more to this "Psychological Warfare" center than most of its actual spending obligations.

The image used to support the claim was based on a nonexistent article, edited from a real but unrelated story by Fox News, not about Ukraine. The claim appeared on Russian Telegram accounts before it was spread widely by English-speaking commentators on X, formerly Twitter.

Read MoreFact Check: Did Ukraine ‘Psychological Warfare’ Unit Get $140M From USAID?

How much aid has the US given to Ukraine?

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US has been the country providing the largest amount of assistance to Ukraine in cash terms. However, it’s not clear what the figures of $300 billion or $350 billion are based on, and these figures have been widely questioned.

Read MoreHow much aid has the US given to Ukraine?

Fact check: What is the truth behind Trump’s claims on Ukraine? | Euronews

Zelenskyy is not a 'dictator' with 4% approval rating
The US does not provide Ukraine with more support than the EU
Russia is deploying significant military resources in Ukraine

Read MoreFact check: What is the truth behind Trump’s claims on Ukraine? | Euronews

Fact check: Trump’s false claims on Zelenskyy, Ukraine aid – DW – 02/21/2025

Is Zelenskyy a dictator who is refusing to hold elections?
Is Zelenskyy running low in the polls?
Has the US spent $350 billion on Ukraine?
Can Ukraine-attached spending explain the gap?
Who has spent more on Ukraine: the USA or Europe?

Read MoreFact check: Trump’s false claims on Zelenskyy, Ukraine aid – DW – 02/21/2025

Fact Check: Did Ukraine ‘Psychological Warfare’ Unit Get $140M From USAID?

False. For the $140 million claim to have been true, USAID would have had to have paid out more to this "Psychological Warfare" center than most of its actual spending obligations.

The image used to support the claim was based on a nonexistent article, edited from a real but unrelated story by Fox News, not about Ukraine. The claim appeared on Russian Telegram accounts before it was spread widely by English-speaking commentators on X, formerly Twitter.

Read MoreFact Check: Did Ukraine ‘Psychological Warfare’ Unit Get $140M From USAID?

Fact Check: Trump’s ‘Dictator’ Attacks On Zelensky – Barron’s

A misleading poll said that Zelensky has a 4% approval rating. Zelensky told reporters it was a Russian figure and that Ukraine had 'proof' that it had been used in talks between Russian and US officials

Read MoreFact Check: Trump’s ‘Dictator’ Attacks On Zelensky – Barron’s

How much U.S. aid went to Ukraine? Detangling Trump, Zelensky’s claims. – The Washington Post

In his remarks, Zelensky went on to say that he knew a large part of U.S. aid came not in direct funds but in the forms of weapons, training, humanitarian programs and in other areas. He said: “I don’t know where all this money is.”

Trump appeared to take the comment as an admission that the money was lost. But while Zelensky said he did not know exactly how it was spent, his understanding appeared to comport with U.S. accounting that shows a large share went to activities carried out to respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including within the United States.

Read MoreHow much U.S. aid went to Ukraine? Detangling Trump, Zelensky’s claims. – The Washington Post