DISINFO: Zelenskyy aims to continue the war to avoid elections in Ukraine
SUMMARY
Zelenskyy has closed the door to any dialogue because he already has his ‘peace’. During his European tour, he asked for more weapons and more support, especially fighter aircrafts, but he got nothing of the latter. He already has the solution [...]: to continue the war and martial law so there won't be elections in the autumn and he can't be replaced.
RESPONSE
This is a mix of several recurring disinformation narratives, aiming to undermine both the leadership of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and international aid for Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.
This disinformation story disingenuously ignores the fact that the current state of war and destruction caused by the Russian invasion doesn’t allow the organisation of elections in Ukraine. By baselessly claiming that president Zelenskyy wants to extend the war so he can’t be expelled from power, this disinformation narrative aims to portray him as an autocratic leader, part of a recurring and wider effort to discredit him.
The allegation that Western powers are unwilling to provide advanced fighter aircrafts to Ukraine was quickly proven false. The day this disinformation story appeared there were already reports on the debate about providing US-made F-16 fighters to Ukraine for its self-defence against Russia’s invasion, with countries like UK or The Netherlands strongly in favour. Less than 48 hours later, the US announced a plan to allow the export of F-16 planes to Ukraine by third countries, as well as to train Ukrainian pilots. Earlier, other countries such as Slovakia and Poland had already committed to sending Mig-29 fighters to Ukraine.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Zelenskyy hid in Europe after the failed assassination attempt against Putin, that the West will get rid of Zelenskky and blame it on Russia, that Zelenskyy will sacrifice his people to save himself, or that Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington shows that Ukraine will be a neo-colony of the US.
This disinformation story appeared in the same clip as the claim that “Europe won’t give fighter aircrafts to Ukrainians, it is only using them as cannon fodder”.