DISINFO: Zelenskyy capable of provocations to obstruct peace talks and extend fighting beyond Ukraine
SUMMARY
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is capable of any provocations and will obstruct the restoration of peace. The Kyiv regime is also ready to extend the combat operations far beyond Ukraine. Zelensky and his entourage will do everything possible to prevent the initiation of peace talks.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets, accusing Ukraine of warmongering and opposing peace talks. This claim was made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine has consistently sought a just peace, not surrender. Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that Ukraine is open to negotiations, but only on terms that respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The idea that he is deliberately blocking peace ignores the fact that Russia has set conditions that Ukraine cannot accept because they undermine its independence, such as recognising occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian. It is Russia, not Ukraine, which started and escalated the war. The claim that Zelenskyy is preventing peace shifts the blame away from Russia, which is the aggressor. Russia launched its unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, continues missile strikes on civilian areas, and has illegally annexed Ukrainian territory.
Accusing Ukraine of provocations is a common Russian narrative framing Ukraine’s self-defence actions as provocations, even when the Ukrainian Armed Forces respond to direct Russian attacks. For example, Ukraine’s strikes on military targets in occupied territories or within Russia itself are legitimate wartime actions rather than provocations. Ukraine’s leadership is not obstructing peace but defending the country's right to exist as a sovereign nation. The real obstacle to peace is Russia’s continued aggression and unwillingness to withdraw from occupied Ukrainian territory.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Putin welcomes Ukraine talks, while Zelenskyy rejects them, that Europeans blame Zelenskyy for stalling the peace process, and that The West ordered Ukraine to refuse peace talks.