Category USA

This is the ‘America First’ case for supporting Ukraine

This is the ‘America First’ case for supporting Ukraine

The lesson of the 20th century is that putting “America First” requires us to project strength and deter our enemies from launching wars of aggression — so that U.S. troops to don’t have to fight and die in another global conflagration. The invasion in Ukraine was a failure of deterrence. Only by helping Ukraine win can we prevent further deterrence failures.

If we help Ukraine prevail, we can rewrite the narrative of U.S. weakness; restore deterrence with China; strike a blow against the Sino-Russian alliance; decimate the Russian threat to Europe; increase burden-sharing with our allies; improve our military preparedness for other adversaries; stop a global nuclear arms race; dissuade other nuclear states from launching wars of aggression; and make World War III less likely.

The “America First” conclusion: Helping Ukraine is a supreme national interest.

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Ukraine: fake NYC subway ad calls homeless Americans to “join” the war – Truth or Fake

Viral photos on social media showed a fake advertisement in the New York City subway system calling for the city's homeless to join the fight in Ukraine. Vedika Bahl explains this misinformation, in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Read MoreUkraine: fake NYC subway ad calls homeless Americans to “join” the war – Truth or Fake

Fake: West Needs to Plan for Ukraine’s Future As If Its Counteroffensive Already Failed…

The Foreign Affairs article does not address a need to plan Ukraine's future after a failed counteroffensive. This conclusion was fabricated by Russian propagandists. The authors of the article discuss the need for the West to plan long-term support for Ukraine, as there is currently no clear plan for what will happen after the counteroffensive. However, the United States and other European countries have repeatedly stated they will support Ukraine for as long as necessary.

Read MoreFake: West Needs to Plan for Ukraine’s Future As If Its Counteroffensive Already Failed…

Watch out, this isn’t a real American ad campaign calling for homeless people to fight in Ukraine

A call for homeless Americans to join the Ukrainian front? That"s what these advertisements shared on Twitter since April 2023 claim to show. Publications in several languages claim that a poster in the New York subway is offering financial benefits to those who are down on their luck - by fighting in Ukraine. However, there are several visual inconsistencies in the poster that point to it being fake. Plus, Ukrainian authorities have denied the existence of any such campaign.

Read MoreWatch out, this isn’t a real American ad campaign calling for homeless people to fight in Ukraine

Fake: Greece Opposes Supplying Ukraine with Weapons

Greece pledged military assistance to Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression. The country's defense minister has stated that Greece 'will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.'

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Putin didn’t ‘shut down’ all Russian oil to the U.S. It’s already banned.

This isn't accurate. The U.S. banned all imports of Russian oil, natural gas and coal in March 2022 after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.
A caption on an April 26 viral Facebook video claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin "just SHUTDOWN All Oil To The US, Collapsing The US Economy!"

Oil prices have dropped in recent days, but market experts credit that largely to weak demand and economic jitters over banking. This is the opposite of what would be expected with prices if this claim were accurate.

It's not. This claim is Pants on Fire!

Read MorePutin didn’t ‘shut down’ all Russian oil to the U.S. It’s already banned.

Fake: Ukraine Will Blow Up Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant During Counteroffensive, US Confirms

The US delivered to Ukraine sensors that detect a surge of radiation. This is solely caused by Russia's nuclear blackmail, not the Ukrainian army's actions or plans.

Read MoreFake: Ukraine Will Blow Up Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant During Counteroffensive, US Confirms

Forged poster shared to claim ‘homeless people recruited in US to fight in Ukraine’

Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, an international legion backing the Kyiv government started an advertising campaign to drum up overseas support and recruit fighters from abroad. However, a fabricated poster shared thousands of times online, allegedly targeting people on welfare in the United States, is not related to this campaign. Ukrainian authorities say the image -- which AFP found has several inconsistencies in its formatting -- is a forgery.

Read MoreForged poster shared to claim ‘homeless people recruited in US to fight in Ukraine’
Have U.S. Taxpayers Sent Over $200B to Ukraine?

Have U.S. Taxpayers Sent Over $200B to Ukraine?

False. Congress has only approved $113 billion for spending in Ukraine. Researchers tracking spending suggest that only around $77 billion has gone directly to Ukraine, a combination of financial, military and other forms of aid.

It's not clear where the $200 billion figure has come from. A Fox News report in February 2023 attributed it to a Ukrainian government statement that Newsweek could not find. Another estimate broadcast on Tucker Carlson Tonight the same month was presented without evidence and upon inspection appears dubious.

Read MoreHave U.S. Taxpayers Sent Over $200B to Ukraine?

FACT CHECK: Did Vladimir Putin Blame Americans For Interfering With Their Own Democracy? | Check Your Fact

Verdict: False
The video was created by the non-partisan anti-corruption organization, RepresentUs. A spokesperson for the organization confirmed the footage of Putin included in the video was not real.

Read MoreFACT CHECK: Did Vladimir Putin Blame Americans For Interfering With Their Own Democracy? | Check Your Fact