The Ukraine that pushes into the Russian hinterland, until it reaches the capital and conquers it. It looks like the plot of a uchronic film, but it is only what according to some users on Facebook the president of the country would have said Volodymyr Zelensky. «Russia will be annexed to Ukraine», read the posts on Facebook that attribute the statement to the number one in Kiev. However, Zelensky has never released a statement in which he said these words. Let’s see everything in detail.
For those in a hurry:
- Some Facebook posts allege that Zelensky has declared plans to invade Russia and take Moscow.
- Zelensky never uttered these words, neither in the speech during which the photo was taken on Facebook, nor in any other context.
Analyses
Below we see the screenshot of one of the posts mocking the leader of Kiev. Overlaid it reads:
Once Ukraine is liberated, we will attack Moscow. And Russia will be annexed to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president is framed by the camera lens as he speaks in front of a lectern. To his right, covered by the inscription “annexed” is a glass of waterclearly visible in the original photo of afptaken from AdnKronos.
Looking for the original photo, it turns out that this was taken on 23 August in Kievon the occasion of a press conference held by the Ukrainian leader together with the Polish president Andrzej Duda. Of the event you will find the images and the commentary on the Facebook profile Zelensky journal, where the recording of the entire conference can be seen. You can clearly see the same glass of water from the shot of afp.
There is a complete report of the live on Kiev independent. In his speech, Zelensky declared: «What will Ukraine do if Kiev is attacked? Same thing he’s doing now. For me, as president, I am sure, like any Ukrainian, that there is no difference between Kiev, Chernihiv, or Donbass. They are all the same.” “The Russians will get an answer. Every day our response will increase, and will become stronger and strongercontinued Zelensky, who did not speak of an invasion of Russia or a capture of Moscow.
In the evening of the same day, the Ukrainian presidential office released a statement. The word Moscow is never mentioned inside. The word Russia and the adjectives derived from it are used only to talk about aggression against Ukraine and never about an invasion by Kiev.
In general, such a statement by the Ukrainian president would have caused a huge media outcry. Which didn’t happen. Searching keywords on Google «Zelensky we will invade Russia»there is no article reporting the claim.
Conclusions:
Some Facebook posts allege that Zelensky has declared plans to invade Russia and take Moscow. Zelensky never uttered these words, neither in the speech during which the photo was taken on Facebook, nor in any other context.
This article contributes to a Facebook project to fight fake news and misinformation in its social platforms. Laws here for more information on our partnership with Facebook.
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No! Zelensky did not say he wanted to invade Russia and conquer Moscow