DISINFO: Zelenskyy’s desperation grows as Trump’s inauguration gets closer
SUMMARY
As the inauguration date for Donald Trump approaches, provocations by NATO, Kyiv, and the European Union are becoming more frequent, as a result of desperation. They carry out desperate moves and use the Ukrainian army as cannon fodder. This brings into question their leader, who is not interested in his citizens, who refuse to be recruited. This conflict is sustained solely by NATO’s moral support. Without it, Ukraine could not have resisted militarily, as there is no justification to continue defending an illegal government like the one represented by Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
RESPONSE
This is a mix of several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the inevitability of a Russian victory, the conflict in Ukraine as a proxy war against Russia, and Ukraine’s leadership, especially President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Messages about 'Ukraine’s desperation' are frequent in the pro-Kremlin disinformation ecosystem. This is a subjective allegation that cannot be measured nor is it backed by empirical evidence, so it must be considered war propaganda aiming to portray Ukraine’s defense as a lost cause. In this case, the narrative is based on the unsubstantiated assumption that Trump will immediately cut all US aid to Ukraine, something that is far from certain.
Allegations that NATO and the EU are using Ukrainians as cannon fodder are baseless. Ukraine and its population are defending themselves against Russian armed aggression in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter on self-defence. This is not a decision made by NATO, the EU, or others. More than 50 states participating in the Ramstein meetings are providing military, financial, and other assistance to Ukraine to restore its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains the legitimate president of Ukraine. Although Zelenskyy’s continuation in power after his initial mandate expired in May 2024 generated some domestic controversy, Ukraine’s constitution is straightforward: no elections can be held during wartime and the President of Ukraine exercises his powers until the assumption of office by the newly-elected President. The continuity of government institutions is one of the key principles of the constitution. Almost all observers consider regular elections unfeasible as there are millions of refugees abroad, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians serving on the frontlines and a significant part of Ukrainian population lives under Russian occupation. There are also multiple funding and infrastructure problems that can hardly be addressed while the war is ongoing.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Ukraine is collapsing and losing its state attributes, that NATO resorting to foreign mercenaries is a sign of desperation, that Ukrainians do not want to die for gay pride parades and Zelenskyy, or that desperate Western countries are looking for a replacement for Ukrainian leaders.