DISINFO: Zelenskyy is a dependent person who was brought to power by Washington
SUMMARY
It was clear that Zelenskyy was a dependent person who was brought to power by Washington. The conflict is necessary and beneficial to the United States, which stuffed Ukraine with weapons, did everything to create the current situation. Zelenskyy does not need peace.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine, alleging that the country is under external control.
The claim is part of an emerging pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a democratically elected leader of Ukraine.
Ukraine is an internationally recognised sovereign state with its own constitution, democratically elected parliament and president. Pro-Kremlin outlets often cast doubt on Ukrainian statehood and claim that Ukraine either does not exist as a state or is going to tumble down very soon.
In reality, present-day Ukraine has been on the world map since 1991 when the Soviet Union disintegrated. It has elected six presidents since then and changed parties in government several times which illustrates political diversity and democratic dynamics even during economic hardship in the wake of Russian aggression in 2014. Ukraine's Western partners have been providing it with financial and technical assistance.
Ukraine is not controlled by the US, EU or any other foreign government or organisation. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by almost the whole world, including the EU, with Russia as the noticeable exception.
The Russian aggression and large scale war in Ukraine is the responsibility of Russia, other countries should not be held responsible for it. On 24 February 2022, the High Representative on behalf of the European Union condemned the invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation:
Russia bears full responsibility for this act of aggression and all the destruction and loss of life it will cause. It will be held accountable for its actions.
See our guide to deciphering pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's war.
See similar disinformation cases in our database: Ukraine fell under external control after the 2014 coup d’etat; Ukraine is under the external control of the US and EU; Zelenskyy is unable to make independent decisions and dances to the tune of the US; Zelenskyy and Tsikhanouskaya are a clown and a kitchen maid selling out their countries; The CIA ordered its puppet Zelenskyy to extend sanctions against Russian social media.