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Are These Claims About Zelenskyy's Family and Career True?
Many rumors have spread about the Ukrainian president since his heated Oval Office meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in February 2025.
by Izz Scott LaMagdeleine , March 1, 2022
Image courtesy of Getty Images
In early March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration temporarily suspended U.S. military assistance to Ukraine. The pause followed a tense meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Oval Office on Feb. 28 as the U.S. continued to largely shift its policy regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.
Following the policy shift — and the rumors that simultaneously spread about Zelenskyy — we looked back at our fact checks about the Ukrainian president. Some of the topics include a rumor that Zelenskyy blocked Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, in Ukraine (false ), the claim that he purchased a casino in Cyprus (false ) and reports that he said he would "exchange" the Russian city of Belgorod for NATO membership (true ).
Here are 15 of the claims we've fact-checked about Zelenskyy over the years:
By Izz Scott LaMagdeleine
Izz Scott LaMagdeleine is the web producer/production editor for Snopes.
Zelenskyy met with Democrats — and Republicans — before his meeting with Trump
March 3, 2025
Zelenskyy's meeting with a bipartisan delegation of the U.S. Senate took place before a contenti ...
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Real Footage of Zelenskyy Reacting to Biden Calling Him 'President Putin'?
July 12, 2024
Joe Biden mistakenly called the Ukrainian president "Putin" at NATO press conference.
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Real Video of Zelenskyy Belly Dancing?
July 3, 2024
The Ukrainian president has been the subject of numerous deepfake videos.
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Zelenskyy did not block Truth Social in Ukraine
Feb. 21, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump's social media platform has never been available in Ukraine.
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Zelenskyy and Wife Photographed with Stacks of Money?
June 12, 2024
"I hope he's got some asbestos suitcases for all that cash," one X user commented.
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Ukraine's President Zelenskyy Bought a Casino in Cyprus?
June 5, 2024
"How is Zelensky going to explain this to his Western funders?" one user on X asked. This articl ...
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Zelenskyy Acquired a Mansion Previously Owned by King Charles III?
April 4, 2024
This claim almost certainly originated as literal Russian propaganda.
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Was Zelenskyy High on Cocaine During February 2024 NBC Interview?
Feb. 26, 2024
During the Feb. 25 interview, the Ukrainian president addressed the need for more military aid f ...
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Did Zelenskyy Urge Western Countries, 'Don't Build Roads, Spend All of Your Money on Weapons'?
Dec. 13, 2023
Viral posts claimed Zelenskyy "begged Western leaders to send all their money to Ukraine."
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Unpacking claim Zelenskyy called Vance an expletive at White House meeting
March 3, 2025
The Ukrainian word "suka" — like the English word "b****" — means "female dog," and can also be ...
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Did Zelenskyy Say He Would 'Exchange' Belgorod for NATO Membership?
Aug. 22, 2023
The border city of Belgorod has been in Russian hands for over a century.
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No, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Did Not Wear a Nazi Symbol
March 17, 2022
Conspiracy theorists and Russian apologists reached new lows in attacking the Ukrainian presiden ...
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Did Zelenskyy Call for Sanctions on 'Any Christian Caught Worshiping in Unapproved Ways'?
Jan. 4, 2023
This strain of misinformation was bolstered by an incorrectly placed quotation mark in a Tucker ...
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Are Zelenskyy and Soros Cousins?
April 11, 2022
If you want to smear a politician in the eyes of some far-right circles, just allege some sort o ...
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Are These Claims About Zelenskyy's Family and Career True?
March 1, 2022
A roundup of the resume and history of the Ukrainian president.
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