Fact-checking Donald Trump’s claims about war in Ukraine
Claim: Zelensky is a 'dictator without elections'
Claim: 'I hate to say it, but he's down at 4% approval rating'
Claim: 'You should have never started it'
Category USA
PolitiFact | Did Ukraine start its war with Russia, as President Donald Trump said? No, Russia invaded
On Feb. 24, 2022, Russian forces launched an invasion on Ukraine, a country that the night before was at peace. Putin called it a "special military operation" and he premised the attack on false claims about Ukraine. As people were sleeping, Russian troops and tanks rolled into Ukraine and missiles poured down in what U.S. military analysts called the largest military operation in Europe since World War II.
The attack followed weeks of Russian maneuvers that included staging a large-scale military exercise along Russia's border with Ukraine that the U.S. estimated to include 190,000 Russian troops.
We rate the statement Pants on Fire!
Trump says Ukraine started war with Russia. What are the facts?
President Donald Trump this week falsely blamed Ukraine for starting the war that has cost tens of thousands of Ukrainian lives, causing outrage and alarm in a country that has spent nearly three years fighting back a much larger Russian military. [...]
Here's a look at some of Trump's statements:
Donald Trump’s claims about Ukraine, fact-checked | SBS News
Claim: Zelenskyy is a 'dictator' who is blocking elections
Fact check: Ukrainian elections can't be held during a war
Claim: Zelenskyy has an approval rating of 4 per cent
Fact check: Recent polling indicates Zelenkskyy has an approval rating of 57 per cent
Claim: Ukraine 'started' the war
Fact check: Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022
Claim: The US contributes more aid to Ukraine than Europe
Fact check: Europe has overtaken the US in terms of Ukraine aid
Fact-Check: Trump’s Ukraine Comments Echo Kremlin Talking Points – The Moscow Times
U.S. President Donald Trump has made several statements on Ukraine and Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in recent days that closely resemble Kremlin rhetoric.
The assertions have amplified fears that Trump, who is pushing to end the three-year war, may try to pressure Kyiv to make major concessions without seeking many in return from Moscow.
The Moscow Times examines Trump's statements and how they compare to Kremlin talking points - plus the truth behind the claims:
Trump blames Ukraine for war
Trump questions President Volodymyr Zelensky’s legitimacy
Zelensky’s '4%’ approval rating
Is Zelenskyy a Dictator? Fact-Checking Trump’s Russia-Ukraine War Claims
President Donald Trump on Tuesday lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a social post full of questionable claims amid the nearly three-year-old Russia-Ukraine war - even inaccurately calling his counterpart a dictator.
Who Started the War in Ukraine?
Is Zelenskyy a Dictator?
Does Zelenskyy Have a Low Approval Rating?
Has the U.S. Given Ukraine More Aid Than Europe?
Fact check: Trump’s barrage of lies about Zelensky and Ukraine
Who started the war
Zelensky's approval rating
US wartime aid to Ukraine
US aid vs. European aid
Zelensky and 'missing' aid money
Fact check: Trump falsely claims Zelensky has a 4% approval rating. It’s above 50% | CNN Politics
Trump's claim is not even close to accurate. Zelensky's approval rating is far higher than 4%. In fact, it has been above 50% in major recent surveys.
Fact Check: Did the US Give $350B to Ukraine, as Trump Claims?
False.
Tracking of Congressional spending on Ukraine shows it has appropriated nearly $183 billion since Russia's invasion. Analysis has shown that some of this funding ends up back in the United States, to restock weapons and defense supplies domestically that the U.S. has given to Kyiv. Some funding has not gone directly to Ukraine but to NATO defense partners.
Posts share Trump deepfake after reported call with Putin
After US media reported Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had spoken on the phone about ending the Ukraine war, social media users shared a video claiming it shows the US leader giving details of the call. Experts told AFP the video appears to be a deepfake. While neither Washington nor Moscow officially confirmed any conversations between the leaders when the clip surfaced, Trump later revealed he had agreed with Putin to immediately start negotiations during a call on February 12.