Debunking the fake: Olena Zelenska did not “invent” a meeting with Melania Trump and did not buy clothing worth one million euros
Ahead of the 80th UN General Assembly, Russian propaganda media, including the TASS news agency, spread false information aimed at discrediting Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska. According to these claims, Zelenska allegedly tried to arrange a meeting with Melania Trump in New York, but the latter supposedly refused. In addition, Russian sources asserted that Zelenska had “edited herself” into a photo with Melania Trump in place of Jordan’s Queen Rania Al Abdullah, and that she had allegedly spent one million euros on luxury clothing in Paris. Fact-checkers from Ukrinform examined these claims and explained why they are disinformation.
Melania Trump allegedly “refused” to meet Olena Zelenska
Russian propagandists, citing the American outlet New York Post, claimed that Melania Trump had refused to meet Ukraine’s First Lady. After the meeting was officially confirmed, Russian Telegram channels began spreading a new version, alleging that Zelenska and Trump never met and that the photo was fabricated.
What actually happened?
- New York Post never reported that Melania Trump refused to meet Olena Zelenska. On the contrary, the outlet’s official website published an article announcing the meeting between Zelenska and Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
- The meeting did indeed take place, as confirmed by an official statement on the website of the President of Ukraine.
- The photo published by Olena Zelenska resembles one posted on Instagram by Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan. However, Melania Trump’s facial expression – particularly her smile – differs in the images. This indicates that separate meetings took place on the same day and in the same location, which is standard practice during the UN General Assembly, when leaders and their spouses hold multiple meetings.
Olena Zelenska allegedly “spent” one million euros on clothing
Russian media, Telegram channels, as well as Facebook and TikTok accounts also circulated a video in which a supposed French stylist of Moroccan origin, Amina El Mansouri, claims that Olena Zelenska purchased clothing and accessories worth one million euros in Paris.
In reality, no such stylist named Amina El Mansouri exists. The woman in the video is an actress whose face was altered using deepfake technology. Using the facial search service PimEyes, Ukrinform fact-checkers determined that the video was created using the face of a woman from stock photos available online. There is also no confirmation in any reliable sources that Zelenska made such purchases.
These fakes are aimed at creating a negative image of Olena Zelenska and the Ukrainian authorities in the eyes of the international – particularly Western – audience. By promoting narratives about an alleged “lack of support” from allies such as the United States, propagandists seek to sow doubt about international solidarity with Ukraine. Such fakes distract from real events and Ukraine’s achievements on the international stage, including the successes of Ukrainian diplomacy at the UN General Assembly.