Latest fact checks & sources

– A ‘dictator without elections’ – Who started the war? – US aid to Ukraine – Europe’s aid to Ukraine – ‘Millions’ of dead?

Donald Trump’s negotiations with Russia focus on resetting US-Russia relations rather than resolving the Ukraine conflict. He has conceded to several of Moscow’s demands, sidelining Ukrainian interests. This approach raises concerns about a deal that benefits Russia at Ukraine’s expense.

– Claim: Zelenskyy is a ‘dictator without elections’ – Claim: The U.S. has spent $350 billion on the war in Ukraine – Claim: The U.S. has spent $200 billion more than Europe; Europe’s money is guaranteed – Claim: Zelenskyy has a 4% approval rating – Claim: Ukraine started the war with Russia

“I think I have the power to end this war, and I think it’s going very well,” Trump said, answering reporters’ questions on February 18 at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “But today I heard [from Ukraine], ‘Oh well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it three years – you should have never started it, you could have made a deal.” This clashes with the evidence that Russia sent a large invasion force into Ukraine in February 2022.

Some GOP lawmakers distanced themselves from Trump’s statements calling Zelensky a “dictator without elections” and blaming Ukraine for the war

After U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, President Donald Trump made several false and misleading statements about the conflict and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump falsely claimed that Ukraine had “started” the war with Russia, saying the country could have made a “deal.” Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He inflated the amount of U.S. aid for Ukraine and wrongly said the U.S. gave “$200 billion more than Europe.” Aid from Europe is higher than that from the U.S. Trump distorted comments Zelenskyy made to claim that the Ukrainian president “admits that half of the money that we sent them is missing.” A Trump administration official has said the U.S. tracks the money. Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator” and misleadingly said that he “refuses” to have elections. Because of the war, the country is under martial law and can’t have an election, according to Ukrainian law.

Indeed, can confirm. And I was standing right beside where this photograph was taken. And then I stood 10 feet from both Zelensky and Bessent inside the presidential office again an hour or so later, when they emerged from their meeting to brief a small group of reporters.

Social media and Russian websites are spreading claims that Ukraine has attacked a convoy of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The claim was made by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. […] In reality, the attack on the IAEA representatives during their rotation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was carried out by the Russian army. Verified geolocation data confirms that Russian strike systems were active in the area during the movement of IAEA personnel to the plant, specifically near the settlement of Kamianske. No activity of Ukrainian strike systems was recorded in this area on the day of the rotation of IAEA representatives.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Who started the war Zelensky’s approval rating US wartime aid to Ukraine US aid vs. European aid Zelensky and ‘missing’ aid money

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?

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

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

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:

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!

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’

In reality, respected polls in Ukraine show that Zelenskyy has over 50% approval among Ukrainians. The most recent, published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in early February, showed that 57% of respondents said they trusted Zelenskyy.