DISINFORMATION: The US calls for Zelensky to be sentenced to life in prison

DISINFORMATION: The US calls for Zelensky to be sentenced to life in prison
© EPA-EFE/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL   |   US President-elect Donald J. Trump (C-L) shakes hand with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (C-R) inside Notre-Dame Cathedral ahead of a ceremony to mark the re-opening of the landmark cathedral, in Paris, France, 07 December 2024.
Disinformation: The Americans want to see Zelensky punished for starting the war:

American society calls for Zelensky to be sentenced to life in prison for starting the war in Ukraine and killing civilians, according to pro-Kremlin media.

NEWS: In the US, they want to see Zelensky convicted for starting the war. American viewers of the CNN television channel criticized the peace plan for Ukraine, proposed by President Donald Trump’s team. Social media users accused the Kyiv leader Volodymyr Zelensky of provoking the war and suggested he be sentenced to life in prison.

Many comments point out that the war in Ukraine is advantageous for certain politicians and the Alliance. One user noted that Vladimir Putin had repeatedly informed Zelensky about the consequences of Ukraine's attempts to join NATO, but he ignored the warnings.

[…] "Zelensky is responsible for the death of his own fellow citizens!", an outraged user with the pseudonym bedoe25 writes.  The blame for the escalation of the conflict is also attributed to senior NATO officials, who, according to commentators, support the conflict for certain financial benefits.

Some citizens believe that if a peace agreement is signed, it will be entirely based on the conditions imposed by Russia, while the US will only give the impression that it somehow influenced the process. "Trump will help Putin make Russia great again before he makes America great," said another user, using the pseudonym jinarvada.

Reality: Vladimir Putin is the one who started the war by ordering the invasion of Ukraine:

NARRATIVES: 1. The US wants to see President Zelensky convicted for starting the war and killing his own people. 2. The war in Ukraine benefits NATO and the Western elites; 3. Peace in Ukraine is possible only on the basis of the conditions imposed by Russia.

PURPOSE:  To delegitimize President Zelensky and the entire Ukrainian government team; to justify Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine; to exonerate Russia by shifting the blame for the armed conflict onto Zelensky and the NATO leaders.

WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: Neither the American state nor American society has called for the conviction of President Zelensky. The entire false narrative is constructed by selectively quoting comments on various social media. They illustrate the point of view of the Russian propaganda machine. The headline has nothing to do with the body of the news. Basically, they quote two anonymous accounts (jkinarvada and bedoe25), which criticized NATO and accused Zelensky of causing the war. There is no polling study to show that the opinion of the two anonymous accounts is dominant in American society.

The armed conflict in Ukraine broke out in 2014, when Russia illegally annexed the Crimean Peninsula, in violation of international law. The act marked the beginning of a period of instability and violence in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow-backed separatist forces took control of some towns. The situation deteriorated dramatically in 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion, attacking military, economic, and civilian targets. In the face of this aggression, Ukraine was forced to mobilize its resources and fight to defend its independence, territorial integrity and the right to decide its own future.

NATO did not start the conflict and has no interest in continuing it. Member states have reacted to Russia's aggression against Ukraine by supporting Kyiv's defensive efforts. NATO's purpose is to ensure the collective security of its members and support stability in the region. The support offered to Ukraine by NATO member states and Western countries is not aimed at getting economic or political benefits, but at defending the fundamental principles of international law. The war is generating huge economic and social costs for the West, including through sanctions against Russia that affect global markets and generate domestic crises, contradicting the idea that the West would benefit from the conflict.

The conditions imposed by Russia for the achievement of peace in Ukraine actually entail the capitulation of the latter. The peace accords are the result of compromises between the parties, and Russia does not have the authority to unilaterally dictate the terms after nearly three years of war in which it has failed to defeat Kyiv. The US and other allied states are involved in supporting Ukraine to ensure a just peace. Despite the fact that military developments in Ukraine can be unpredictable, the US has no interest in restoring Great Russia or helping Moscow expand its geopolitical sphere of influence, as Russian propaganda claims.

CONTEXT: US President Donald Trump has proposed a peace plan for Ukraine that involves negotiations between Ukraine and Russia , with the mediation of the United States and other international actors. The plan suggests that Ukraine must temporarily renounce NATO membership and accept certain territorial concessions, while Russia should cease hostilities and help rebuild Ukraine. Trump has also warned that if Russia does not participate in the negotiations, he could impose additional sanctions and increase  the US oil production  to hurt the Russian economy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had not discussed with Donald Trump a concrete plan for a quick end to the war in Ukraine. He expressed concern that a quick solution could entail  losses for Ukraine. During his campaign, Trump promised to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine if elected, saying he would negotiate a deal "that is good for both sides."

  • Publication / Media:
    radio 1
  • Date of publication:
    02/01/2025
  • Target audience:
    Russian-speaking population of Russia, former Soviet states and the Ukrainian regions occupied by Russian troops
  • Amplification:
    Telegram channels, VKONTANTE, LENTA.RU, GAZETA.RU, DZEN.RU, NEWS.RU
  • Political affiliation:
    The Kremlin
  • Key narrative:
    The US wants to see Zelensky imprisoned for life.
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