Category Negotiations and peace deals

Fact Check: Video Of Putin Speaking About Russian Terms For Ceasefire Is NOT From 2025

Did a video circulating on social media show Russian President Vladimir Putin making a public statement about Russia's terms for a ceasefire in Ukraine in March 2025? No, that's not true: The clip had been online for nine months. It showed Putin's remarks from June 2024.

Read MoreFact Check: Video Of Putin Speaking About Russian Terms For Ceasefire Is NOT From 2025

FACT CHECK: Exchange between U.S. defense official and journalist on Ukraine-Russia FAKE

WHAT WAS CLAIMED: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a journalist had an exchange about the impending peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

OUR VERDICT: Fake: No such exchange on diplomacy and Russia's concessions took place between Hegseth and a reporter in a press briefing after a NATO defense ministers' meeting on Feb. 13.

Read MoreFACT CHECK: Exchange between U.S. defense official and journalist on Ukraine-Russia FAKE

Zelenskyy met with Democrats – and Republicans – before his meeting with Trump

Claim: On Feb. 28, 2025, before a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Democrats who convinced him to reject a deal that would allow the U.S. to exploit minerals in Ukraine in exchange for U.S. support in Ukraine's war with Russia.

Rating: Mixture.

What's True: Zelenskyy did meet with Democratic U.S. senators ...
What's False: ... but that meeting also included at least three Republican senators. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, emphatically rejected claims that the Democrats of the U.S. Senate delegation had dissuaded Zelenskyy from taking the minerals deal. Further, Zelenskyy confirmed to reporters two days after the meeting that his country was ready to accept the deal.

Read MoreZelenskyy met with Democrats – and Republicans – before his meeting with Trump

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 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 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?

DISINFO: Ukraine ‘peace’ summit is another US-invented scam

This is a pre-emptive attempt to discredit the peace summit which Switzerland will host on 15-16 June 2024.

The US is not behind this initiative, which was launched upon Ukraine's request with Switzerland agreeing to host. Switzerland has invited over 160 delegations from around the world to join for the first Summit on Peace in Ukraine, including members of the G7, G20, BRICS, many other countries from all continents, as well as the EU, three international organisations and religious representatives. According to the Swiss government, the summit aims to create a framework favourable to comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine, as well as "a concrete roadmap for Russia's participation in the peace process." If the summit does not provide fruitful results, it will be because of Russia's impossible preconditions for a peaceful settlement. Russia refuses to engage in any talks before the "unconditional surrender of the Kiev [sic] regime."

Read MoreDISINFO: Ukraine ‘peace’ summit is another US-invented scam

DISINFO: The summit in Switzerland has nothing to do with finding ways to resolve the conflict

This is a pre-emptive attempt to discredit the peace summit that Switzerland will host on 15-16 June, 2024. Also, this is an often-used pro-Kremlin narrative, claiming that the West is not interested in peace between Russia and Ukraine. Western countries, including the US and EU members, have consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. They have called for dialogue, negotiations, and adherence to international law to resolve the crisis. Stability in Ukraine and the wider region is conducive to global security and economic prosperity.

Read MoreDISINFO: The summit in Switzerland has nothing to do with finding ways to resolve the conflict

DISINFO: Boris Johnson called on Kyiv not to sign any peace deal with Russia and just fight

A recurring disinformation narrative in pro-Kremlin outlets claiming that Ukraine and its allies are not interested in peace.

The claim, which is also timed to smear Ukraine ahead of the international peace conference hosted in Switzerland 15-16 June 2024, is part of an ongoing pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign in Russia's illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The claim seeks to paint the Ukrainian government as warmongering and Russia as peace-lover / peace proposer. It also attempts to portray Ukraine as a Western puppet state.

Read MoreDISINFO: Boris Johnson called on Kyiv not to sign any peace deal with Russia and just fight