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
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.
Data released by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) shows that while Zelensky's support base has decreased since early 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, it is still far higher than Trump's claim of four percent. In a poll conducted between February 4-9, 57 percent of adults said they trusted Zelensky, while 37 percent of respondents said that they do not and six percent said it was hard to say.
Despite the US president's claims of low support, Zelenskyy's approval rating reached 57% in February - higher than Trump's own.
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.
There is no credible poll in Ukraine that shows Zelensky with an approval rating in the single digits. Surveys consistently show him in the 50-60 percent approval range, down from the 75-90 percent marks he was getting earlier in the war.
February's KIIS poll showed 57 percent of Ukrainians trust Zelensky, which is a higher level of support than President Trump has received in recent polls from Gallup (48 percent) and YouGov (47 percent).
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
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.
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.
