Category Narratives

Trump rift opens floodgates of disinformation on Ukraine

Disinformation targeting Ukraine and its leader Volodymyr Zelensky is surging as US President Donald Trump's shift on the war frays relations with Kyiv and threatens to cripple support for the battle-worn nation. [...]

Joseph Bodnar, a researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (archived here), said the Russian influence efforts are focused "on fostering animosity between the Trump and Zelensky administrations."

"Russia wants to convince US negotiators that Ukraine is their enemy, not their partner. It's a means for the Kremlin to extract favorable terms in whatever peace settlement comes."

Read MoreTrump rift opens floodgates of disinformation on Ukraine

Trump says Ukraine started the war that’s killing its citizens. What are the facts?

Did Ukraine start its war with Russia, as President Donald Trump said? No, Russia invaded

Media outlets worldwide covered Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged it as a "special military operation," saying the offensive would "seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine."

For years, Russia has sought to blame Ukrainian actions for its invasion.

Read MoreTrump says Ukraine started the war that’s killing its citizens. What are the facts?

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

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

Fact-check: Did Ukraine start its war with Russia, as Trump claims? | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera

Verdict: False Ukraine did not 'start' this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives.

Read MoreFact-check: Did Ukraine start its war with Russia, as Trump claims? | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera

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.

Read MoreFact Check: Did the US Give $350B to Ukraine, as Trump Claims?

Fact-checking Donald Trump’s claims about war in Ukraine

Verdict False; Claim: Zelensky is a 'dictator without elections'… Ukraine has been under martial law since the Russian invasion in February 2022, which means elections are suspended

Read MoreFact-checking Donald Trump’s claims about war in Ukraine

Fact Check: Did JD Vance Say US ‘Military Action’ Available Against Russia?

True.

JD Vance did say that "military tools of leverage" could be used if Moscow did not cooperate with the terms of a negotiation that ended fighting between Russia and Ukraine. He did rule out U.S. deployment, saying "the president is very clear that whenever he walks into negotiation, everything is on the table."

While Vance claimed his words were "twisted," a full transcript shows he did not rule out military action.

Read MoreFact Check: Did JD Vance Say US ‘Military Action’ Available Against Russia?

No, USAID didn’t pay Hollywood actors millions to visit Ukraine

Our rating: Manipulated media
The video is a fabrication that wasn't reported or published by E! News, a company spokesperson said. The video is consistent with material created by a Russia-aligned influence campaign, disinformation experts said.

Read MoreNo, USAID didn’t pay Hollywood actors millions to visit Ukraine