Category Russia

Fact Check: Trump Says Russia Has Lost 1.5 Million Troops In Ukraine War

There are no estimates that 1.5 million Russian soldiers have been killed and wounded since Russia invaded Ukraine. Recent analyses suggest manpower losses of around 780,000 as of early January 2025. Ukrainian government estimates from February 2025 claim 850,000 Russian troop losses. While the Ukrainian government is thought to have overcounted Russian losses and undercounted its own, some of its recent assessments have been similar to those by government and expert analyses outside of Kyiv.

An independent analyst told Newsweek that Trump's estimate of Russian losses had "no basis in reality."

Read MoreFact Check: Trump Says Russia Has Lost 1.5 Million Troops In Ukraine War

Trump’s ‘make peace or die’ message to Putin is deepfake – yet it fooled Russians

On Jan. 27, Andrey Isayev, a member of Russia's State Duma (the lower house of parliament), accused U.S. President Donald Trump of trying to "rudely" force Russian President Vladimir Putin to start peace negotiations with Ukraine. [...]

"Trump threatened our president rather rudely, it must be said, pressuring to start the negotiations and reminding of Qaddafi's fate."

The claim is false.

Read MoreTrump’s ‘make peace or die’ message to Putin is deepfake – yet it fooled Russians

False claims USAID paid celebs to visit Ukraine linked to Russian disinformation campaign

WHAT WAS CLAIMED: E! News published a video stating celebrities received funds from USAID to visit Ukraine.

OUR VERDICT: False. The video is fake and there's no evidence USAID funded the visits.

Read MoreFalse claims USAID paid celebs to visit Ukraine linked to Russian disinformation campaign

Fake: USAID Funded Hollywood Celebrities’ Visits to Ukraine During War – E!News

The E!News portal never published such a story, and the widely circulated news is fake, debunked by both the media and the celebrities who visited Ukraine.

Read MoreFake: USAID Funded Hollywood Celebrities’ Visits to Ukraine During War – E!News

FACT CHECK: Did Russia Sentence A Man To 14 Years In Prison For Burning The Quran?

This is not a genuine cover of The Economist. It has not been shared on the publication's archive of past editions, or elsewhere on its website. The Economist edition for 24 February 2024 did feature a different illustration of President Putin and Mr Trump with the title 'Is Europe ready?'

Read MoreFACT CHECK: Did Russia Sentence A Man To 14 Years In Prison For Burning The Quran?

The Economist has not published ‘apocalypse’ cover featuring Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin

This is not a genuine cover of The Economist. It has not been shared on the publication's archive of past editions, or elsewhere on its website. The Economist edition for 24 February 2024 did feature a different illustration of President Putin and Mr Trump with the title 'Is Europe ready?'

Read MoreThe Economist has not published ‘apocalypse’ cover featuring Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin

FACT CHECK: No, This Video Does Not Show Vladimir Putin’s Airplane Escort

This is not a genuine cover of The Economist. It has not been shared on the publication's archive of past editions, or elsewhere on its website. The Economist edition for 24 February 2024 did feature a different illustration of President Putin and Mr Trump with the title 'Is Europe ready?'

Read MoreFACT CHECK: No, This Video Does Not Show Vladimir Putin’s Airplane Escort

FACT CHECK: Did Ukraine Fire U.S.-Made Missiles Against Civilians In Russia?

This is not a genuine cover of The Economist. It has not been shared on the publication's archive of past editions, or elsewhere on its website. The Economist edition for 24 February 2024 did feature a different illustration of President Putin and Mr Trump with the title 'Is Europe ready?'

Read MoreFACT CHECK: Did Ukraine Fire U.S.-Made Missiles Against Civilians In Russia?

FACT CHECK: Did the Secretary General of NATO Threaten To Expel the United States?

This quote is not real, however. There is no proof that Rutte has ever said or implied that he would expel the U.S. from NATO, and Rutte congratulated the incoming President on his victory in a post on X just two days after Election Day.

Read MoreFACT CHECK: Did the Secretary General of NATO Threaten To Expel the United States?