Category International community

Fact check: 78 times Zelensky has expressed gratitude to the US

President Donald Trump claimed on social media on Sunday that "UKRAINE 'LEADERSHIP' HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS" in relation to the war there.

Trump's claim is not even close to accurate.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed gratitude to the United States on dozens of occasions - 78 examples are listed below - since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of his country in early 2022. And Zelensky has repeatedly expressed gratitude to Trump personally since Trump was elected again last fall.

Read MoreFact check: 78 times Zelensky has expressed gratitude to the US

Fake: French Industrial Icon Shutters Because of ‘Anti-Russia’ Policy

The Bonpertuis plant didn't fall victim to anti-Russia sanctions, but to the broader slump in Europe's steel sector - a squeeze that has left smaller mills unable to absorb soaring costs or finance the large-scale investments required to stay competitive.

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Fake: Charlie Hebdo Mocked Macron’s Ukraine Policy and Pokrovsk Fighting

StopFake

Fake: Charlie Hebdo Mocked Macron's Ukraine Policy and Pokrovsk ...

Claim by Viral social media post: Charlie Hebdo Mocked Macron's Ukraine Policy and Pokrovsk Fighting

StopFake rating: The covers are entirely fabricated; the French magazine has never published the cartoons in question.

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Fake: Ukrainian Gang Stole Chairs from Spanish Restaurants

Claim by Viral social media post:
Ukrainian Gang Stole Chairs from Spanish Restaurants
StopFake rating:
The story is true. Yet none of the media publications mention the nationality of the perpetrators. [No indication that they are Ukrainian.]

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Fake: Italian Landmark Collapsed Because Funds Were Diverted to Ukraine

A historic tower in central Rome did not collapse because Italy "sent all its money to Ukraine." The medieval Torre dei Conti fell during fully funded restoration work. Italian authorities are investigating the incident as a workplace accident and possible negligence.

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False Quote Attributed to Olena Zelenska About Joining NATO Circulates

The quote attributed to Olena Zelenska is false. A similar phrase appeared in a 2022 BBC interview, but there she spoke not about enduring harsh conditions for 20-30 years or about joining NATO, but about 2-3 years and the prospect of joining the European Union

Read MoreFalse Quote Attributed to Olena Zelenska About Joining NATO Circulates

Manipulation: Ukraine Lost a Billion Dollars by Signing a Contract With an “American Weapon Store” – FT

Claim by Viral social media post:
Ukraine Lost a Billion Dollars by Signing a Contract With an "American Weapon Store" - FT
StopFake rating:
The Financial Times did not write that Ukraine lost a billion dollars on this deal. The newspaper only reported on the arms supply contract that Ukraine signed with an Arizona company in the first months of the full-scale invasion. The company was never able to fulfill it due to the lack of experience in such large-scale deliveries. The irresponsible supplier received 17 million euros in advance, but Ukraine successfully sued for this money after the contract was canceled.

Read MoreManipulation: Ukraine Lost a Billion Dollars by Signing a Contract With an “American Weapon Store” – FT

Fake: Ukrainian Media Staged Olena Zelenska’s Meeting with Melania Trump

This photo is real. The first ladies met at the UN General Assembly in late September and discussed the protection of Ukrainian children. [...] However, this accusation against the Ukrainian media is completely unfounded. First, the photos are not identical: Melania Trump's facial expression and leg position are different in the photos. And secondly, the US First Lady took joint photos with Olena Zelenska and the Queen of Jordan on the same day, which is why she is wearing the same white suit. [...] There are no signs of editing on the photo with Zelenska.

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Fake: Ukrainian TV Doctored Zelensky’s UN Broadcast

A review of broadcast recordings and digital forensics shows the claim doesn't hold up. Ukrainian networks aired the official UN feed, while the version circulating online - showing a packed audience - was manipulated footage. [...] A review of the original United News broadcast - including the 1+1 TV segment - found no evidence of any 'added' audience. [...] The authentic broadcast carried unmistakable identifiers - the UN logo in the upper right corner and a Ukrainian-language audio track. By contrast, the fabricated version omitted these details, featured an English-language narration, and bore visible traces of AI manipulation.

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