The Ukrainian political elite wants to prolong the war, refusing any peace process proposed by the USA, so as not to lose its influence and revenue stream, Russian propaganda writes.
Propaganda: Kyiv wants to manipulate Trump so as not to end the war
NEWS: The Ukrainian elites are concerned with the behavior of the new US administration and the prospects of peace negotiations on Ukraine, without Ukraine taking part. Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba offers advice on how Trump could be manipulated. In his opinion, Ukraine should involve Trump in a long-term game, that is, to buy as much time as possible […]
He believes that Ukraine should not announce the end of the war, even in the event of a truce desired by Trump. Kuleba suggests concluding a “pseudo-truce”, during which time “there will be shooting and killing, but simply to a lesser extent”. Then, Kuleba hopes, a new war will break out. “Time is Trump’s only enemy. Time is the only salvation for our elites”, the Ukrainian political analyst Mikhail Chaplyga comments […].
The Ukrainian elites’ intentions are reduced to their attempts to play for time, to wait, to postpone, to survive and not relinquish power and the profits generated by the war under any circumstances.
NARRATIVES: 1. The political elites in Kyiv want to manipulate Donald Trump and boycott the peace process. 2. Ukrainian leaders refuse peace talks to stay in power and get rich.
Fact: Ukraine seeks to achieve a lasting and fair peace that is not imposed unilaterally by Russia
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: Russian state media has misquoted the former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba’s statement to BBC Ukraine, reiterating the false narrative that Ukrainian political elites are interested in continuing the war. Kuleba did not refer to the possibilities of manipulating or tricking Trump, nor to Kyiv’s desire to see a further phase of the war after a short truce. On the contrary, Kuleba warned that a peace agreement that will not be based on certain security guarantees for Kyiv cannot stop Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine again. The former Ukrainian official does not hope for a new war and does not believe that Kyiv should agree to a “pseudo-truce”, but fears another war as Putin will regard this agreement as a document stripped of any obligations.
To make the false narrative more credible, the article cites Ukrainian political scientist Mikhail Chaplyga, who collaborated with the media outlets of pro-Russian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, giving interviews to government TV stations in Moscow. In 2022, for instance, he claimed that Ukrainians consider Vladimir Putin a great leader.
Ukrainian authorities want to put an end to all hostilities, however not on the terms imposed by Russia, which essentially amount to Ukraine’s surrender – including the handover of territories, the abandonment of Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and the transformation of Ukraine into a state under Moscow’s influence. Kyiv seeks to negotiate a lasting peace that reflects both national interests and the will of the Ukrainian people in line with international law. To achieve this goal, the Ukrainian administration has presented several peace plans over the past three years. One of Kiev’s basic demands is to provide security guarantees, either through NATO or through bilateral or multilateral agreements. Unless this condition is met, Russia might attack Ukraine again.
The war does not serve the best interests of the Ukrainian political or economic elites. In addition to human losses and large-scale destruction, the war has led to a significant deterioration of the economy. The armed conflict creates an atmosphere of insecurity, which can endanger the country’s stability, blocking Ukraine’s EU accession process. Even if the war in Ukraine were to end tomorrow, many people would have nothing to return to. Every battle, bombing, missile attack, burned-down house has left its mark on the economy, political life and society as a whole.
BACKGROUND: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected any peace talks without Kyiv’s actual participation, emphasizing that it needs security guarantees and continuous military support. He said that Donald Trump “lives in a disinformation space” where Russia sows discord. Zelenskyy is confident Ukraine “will not give in to Russia’s ultimatums”, a statement he made after talks between the American and Russian delegations that took place in Saudi Arabia. The Ukrainian leader, who was not invited to the Russian-American peace talks, added that Ukraine did not give in to Russian ultimatums when Moscow launched the invasion three years ago “and I will not do it now”. Before the talks in Riyadh, Zelenskyy wrote on social media that he will refuse to sign any agreement concluded without Kyiv’s participation.
PURPOSE: To discredit Ukrainian leaders by associating them with various personal interests to the detriment of peace. To influence public opinion with a view to reducing international support for Ukraine.
