Category Fact checks / debunkings

Trump Exaggerates on U.S. and European Aid to Ukraine, Loans

Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, told us in an email that “Trump’s citation of $350 billion is double what Congress has appropriated.”

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Congress has passed five spending bills to provide support to Ukraine, totaling about $174.2 billion, as we’ve explained before in fact-checking this and other claims Trump has made about Ukraine and Zelenskky. Each of those five measures passed with bipartisan support. [...]

As for Trump’s claim that Europe provided its aid to Ukraine in the “form of a loan, they get their money back,” that’s an exaggeration. Only a portion of European aid is in the form of loans.

Read MoreTrump Exaggerates on U.S. and European Aid to Ukraine, Loans

Viral Photos Of Zelenskyy In Suit Predate 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

Claim: Volodymyr Zelenskyy wore a suit while meeting Emmanuel Macron and Klaus Schwab, but opted for a non-formal sweatshirt during his visit to the Oval Office.

Fact: Photos of Zelenskyy with Macron and Schwab were taken prior to the Russian invasion of February 2022.

Read MoreViral Photos Of Zelenskyy In Suit Predate 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

Video doesn’t show Zelenskyy using expletive about Trump outside 10 Downing Street

However, Zelenskyy did not use any expletives about Trump when speaking to journalists during the walk from his motorcade to greet Starmer. The claim is false. Further, the video exhibited potential signs that its originator used an artificial-intelligence tool to create many of its elements.

An unedited video (archived) showing the same moment featured an unidentified reporter asking, "Mr. President, how was the trip? How do you feel?," and Zelenskyy responding, "Ok. Thank you so much."

Read MoreVideo doesn’t show Zelenskyy using expletive about Trump outside 10 Downing Street

Fact Check: Music video BTS goes viral as Ukrainian soldiers fake combat for US funds

Claim: Ukraine was caught faking combat scenes to ask for more money from the US.

Fact: This video does not show Ukrainian soldiers creating fake combat scenes. It's a behind-the-scenes shot from a music video.

Read MoreFact Check: Music video BTS goes viral as Ukrainian soldiers fake combat for US funds

Zelenskyy met with Democrats – and Republicans – before his meeting with Trump

Claim: On Feb. 28, 2025, before a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Democrats who convinced him to reject a deal that would allow the U.S. to exploit minerals in Ukraine in exchange for U.S. support in Ukraine's war with Russia.

Rating: Mixture.

What's True: Zelenskyy did meet with Democratic U.S. senators ...
What's False: ... but that meeting also included at least three Republican senators. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, emphatically rejected claims that the Democrats of the U.S. Senate delegation had dissuaded Zelenskyy from taking the minerals deal. Further, Zelenskyy confirmed to reporters two days after the meeting that his country was ready to accept the deal.

Read MoreZelenskyy met with Democrats – and Republicans – before his meeting with Trump

Grok Neural Network Shows Handcuffed Zelensky Behind Bars in Times Square

The New York Times never published this video, and its real existence has not been confirmed online, despite the claim that it was shown in New York city centre. The footage shown in the video does not match the indicated text prompt, which alludes to editing. In addition, the video first appeared on a pro-Russian Telegram channel and was shared exclusively though propaganda sources, which confirms its fake origin.

Read MoreGrok Neural Network Shows Handcuffed Zelensky Behind Bars in Times Square