On November 3, Facebook user Jeni Burjanadze, who regularly spreads disinformation, published a post claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had given U.S. President Donald Trump a three-day deadline to allow Ukraine to join NATO and issued an ultimatum that if the demand was not met, Kyiv would seek to join the Russian Federation
The claims that Zelenskyy gave Donald Trump a three-day deadline for Ukraine’s NATO membership, as well as the alleged quote about joining Russia, are false. No such statement by the Ukrainian President can be found in open sources, and it contradicts his publicly declared position.
Reports about this alleged statement by Zelenskyy are disinformation. There is no evidence of such an ultimatum in open sources, including reliable American or Ukrainian media outlets. In the past, Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that he opposes ceding any territory to Russia (1; 2).
The photo used in the Facebook post is dated October 17, 2024, when Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels. At the joint press event with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the Ukrainian President emphasized the importance and necessity of Ukraine’s NATO membership and underlined the impact and significance of partner countries’ support for the Ukrainian people. It should be noted that during this press conference, no statement or appeal was made to the current U.S. President, Donald Trump, of any kind or content.
For context, the most recent meeting between the Presidents of the United States and Ukraine took place on October 17 of this year at the White House in Washington, D.C. The leaders discussed issues such as potential ceasefire conditions, U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, security guarantees, and Ukraine’s efforts to reclaim territories lost as a result of the war. During that meeting, Zelenskyy did not make any statement or ultimatum resembling the one mentioned in the Facebook post.
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Prepared by Saba Manjgaladze
Myth Detector Lab
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