Category USA

Fact check: Ukraine elections, tax thresholds and viral masked men image

Under the terms of Ukraine's constitution, elections cannot be held while the country is under martial law (which was declared by Mr Zelensky in February 2022 following Russia's invasion, and has been extended multiple times by Ukraine's parliament).

Experts have also noted a number of practical obstacles to holding elections - around one-fifth of the country is currently occupied by Russia, millions of Ukrainians are displaced or serving on front lines, and there are security concerns.

Read MoreFact check: Ukraine elections, tax thresholds and viral masked men image

PolitiFact checks facts on Donald Trump’s Ukraine comments

While answering reporters' questions about U.S. and Russian representatives meeting in Saudi Arabia without anyone from Ukraine present, the president said, "But today I heard, 'Oh 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."

WMUR's partners at PolitiFact looked into this statement. PolitiFact's Lou Jacobson joins to examine the claims.

Read MorePolitiFact checks facts on Donald Trump’s Ukraine comments

Trump said Zelensky treated gay Cabinet member “rudely.” Photographic evidence says otherwise.

Preisdent Donald Trump told reporters that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky treated out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent “rudely” when he traveled to the capital of Ukraine and didn't even meet with him. But then photos of the two men meeting were posted online, contradicting Trump's story.

Read MoreTrump said Zelensky treated gay Cabinet member “rudely.” Photographic evidence says otherwise.

Fact check: Ukraine elections, tax thresholds and viral masked men image | The Independent

How common is it for democracies to postpone elections during wartime?

Under the terms of Ukraine's constitution, elections cannot be held while the country is under martial law (which was declared by Mr Zelensky in February 2022 following Russia's invasion, and has been extended multiple times by Ukraine’s parliament).

Experts have also noted a number of practical obstacles to holding elections - around one-fifth of the country is currently occupied by Russia, millions of Ukrainians are displaced or serving on front lines, and there are security concerns.

Read MoreFact check: Ukraine elections, tax thresholds and viral masked men image | The Independent

How much aid has the US given to Ukraine?

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US has been the country providing the largest amount of assistance to Ukraine in cash terms. However, it’s not clear what the figures of $300 billion or $350 billion are based on, and these figures have been widely questioned.

Read MoreHow much aid has the US given to 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?

Fact Check: Did Ukraine ‘Psychological Warfare’ Unit Get $140M From USAID?

False.

Audited records of Congressionally appropriated Ukrainian aid show most of what USAID manages is Kyiv's government budget, which funds its public sector workers, social services, pensions, and internally displaced persons.

For the $140 million claim to have been true, USAID would have had to have paid out more to this "Psychological Warfare" center than most of its actual spending obligations.

The image used to support the claim was based on a nonexistent article, edited from a real but unrelated story by Fox News, not about Ukraine. The claim appeared on Russian Telegram accounts before it was spread widely by English-speaking commentators on X, formerly Twitter.

Read MoreFact Check: Did Ukraine ‘Psychological Warfare’ Unit Get $140M From USAID?

Claims that Ukraine banned Truth Social are false

US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in a rift between the two leaders as Kyiv remains locked in a three-year-old war started by a Russian invasion. However, claims that Zelensky retaliated by banning Truth Social are false -- representatives for the social network said it had not launched in Ukraine, and the government there said Trump's platform would be welcome.

Read MoreClaims that Ukraine banned Truth Social are false