Propagandists say that a year ago at a press conference US President Joe Biden made a reservation about plans to blow up Nord Stream. This is manipulation.

Analysts of The Insider project drew attention to it. They analyzed Biden's responses at a press conference cited by propagandists. A press conference between Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took place on February 7, 2022. At it, Andrea Schalal, a correspondent for Reuters, asked whether Germany gave Biden guarantees to close Nord Stream in case of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Biden replied that if Russian “tanks or troops cross the border of Ukraine again”, there will be “no more Nord Stream 2”. The reporter tried to clarify how the United States wants to achieve this, to which the President of the United States replied: “I promise you, we can do it”.

Analysts at The Insider drew attention to the fact that at that time Nord Stream 2 was completed, but not yet put into operation. Given the full context of the press conference, it is clear that we are talking about sanctions against the operation of Nord Stream 2. These sanctions were introduced on February 23, 2022 in response to Russia's recognition of the so-called “DNR” and “LNR”. Then Germany stopped certification of the gas pipeline, which led to a halt in its operation.

Thus, propagandists want to shift the responsibility for Russia's crimes to Western countries. Like, the West is provoking Russia and testing its patience. Russian propaganda actively uses the statements of Joe Biden, taking them out of context. Detector Media published a selection of messages that propagandists disseminated on his recent visit to Kyiv.

Such a message was circulated on social networks, in particular on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. The report says that during the visit of the President of the United States of America Joe Biden to Kyiv, he met with Zelenskyi's “double”. Like, the real president is hiding from possible Russian missile attacks. The authors of the messages add to the publication a photo from the meeting of Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Olena Zelenska and Joe Biden near the Mariinskyi Palace. According to the authors, one of the photographs shows how the “real” Zelenskyi is hiding in the premises of the Mariinskyi Palace during the air raid alert. At the same time, the “double” along with the first lady greets Joe Biden. It is not true.

Analysts from the Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National security and defense council investigated this case and found that this statement is unfounded, because the photos show Zelenskyi’s bodyguard who is following the course of events during the meeting. Analysts are sure that this is another stuffing and conspiracy theory from Russian propaganda.

By spreading such a fake, propagandists want to discredit Zelenskyi, who allegedly creates doubles for himself. Previously, propagandists spread messages about fake graffiti with Zelenskyi in public places, fake magazine covers, etc.

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, in telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that upon Joe Biden's arrival in Warsaw, when getting off the plane, he caught on the stairs and fell down. The authors of the messages add that “this is the president's foreign policy”. A video is added to the publication, where you can see that Joe Biden is rolling down the stairs. It is not true.

Analysts of the MythDetector project investigated this case and found that Joe Biden is not depicted on the distributed shot. In a video broadcast by the Polish TV channel TVN24, one can see that it was actually one of the members of the US delegation who fell while trying to go down. Analysts explain that this shot was cut from a TVN24 special, but the full version is freely available. Therefore, one can watch it and make sure that a member of the delegation fell, leaving the back of the plane, and Joe Biden got out of the front without any incidents.

Propagandists systematically spread fakes about Ukrainian partners in order to discredit them. Thus, Russian propaganda uses the tactics of ridicule and tries to create the illusion that Ukrainian partners are despised. Drawing parallels with the so-called fall and the results of “foreign policy”, the authors of the messages want to emphasize that the decisions of the West on Russia are “meaningless and unworthy of attention”.

Information is spreading on social networks and on Russian resources that US President Joseph Biden promised Ukraine “difficult times” during his speech in Poland. Like, Biden's speechwriters tried to build his speech in Warsaw as a winner's speech, but they only succeeded in fixing the intermediate results of the “conflict” between the West and Russia, in which Ukraine was assigned the role of a tool. This is manipulation.

The propagandists took the words of the American president out of context. During a speech in Poland, Joseph Biden said that the next five years are likely to be decisive for the world and the world's democracies. He expressed the same thesis during a speech in Kyiv the day before. Moreover, Biden stressed that Ukraine will never be Putin's victory and he will lose. At the same time, propagandists ignored the part of the speech in which Biden spoke about the plight of Russia.

Thus, Russian propaganda nourishes narratives about “external control” in Ukraine and “Russia’s war with the West on the territory of Ukraine”. Russian propaganda systematically uses quotes from politicians, distorted or taken out of context, to publish wishful thinking. Detector Media highlighted the key disinformation messages about the visit of the American president to Kyiv. More details.

Russian media are spreading information that during his visit, US President Joe Biden ordered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi to step up the actions of the Ukrainian army and launch a counteroffensive. At the same time, propagandists refer to the material of the publication Politico. Allegedly, its authors indicate that Ukraine should launch a counteroffensive now, since the pace of assistance from the West will slow down significantly. This is manipulation.

Analysts at the StopFake project found that the Politico article made no mention of the slowdown in aid to Ukraine and Biden's orders. The material is devoted to the results of the Munich Security Conference and the then upcoming European tour of the US President. The authors of the article argue: “U.S. officials believe that the defense of Ukraine is about to reach a critical phase, when Russia will launch its long-awaited offensive. The Biden administration is strongly urging the administration of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi to build on the gains made and perhaps launch a counter strike”.

The Russian media do not correctly quote the publication and give an inaccurate translation of the phrasing from it. For example, if we are talking about the pace of arms deliveries, the word “freely” is used in the original material. And propagandists translate it as “slowly”.

Thus, Russian propaganda wants to re-emphasize Ukraine's “inability” to make independent decisions. The propagandists also want to convince their audience that the West is tired of helping Ukraine, but recent decisions to provide new military and financial aid packages prove otherwise. The Russian media is still spreading disinformation about the US President's visit to Kyiv. Detector Media has already published a selection of the main messages spread by propagandists on this issue.

Against the backdrop of news about the arrival of US President Joe Biden to Ukraine, a lot of disinformation stuffing appeared in anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Russian rhetoric. In particular, the propagandists broadcast their vision of events and voiced a number of messages about the visit of a high-ranking official.

The team of analysts of Detector Media identified the main ones.

Biden came to report that he is “merging” Ukraine

Like, the reason for the sudden visit was “secret agreements” with Moscow, which Biden seems to want to tell Zelenskyi personally. Propagandists insist that the United States and the “collective West” are tired not only of the topic of Ukraine, but also of its “unwillingness” to sit down at the negotiating table.

However, all this is unfounded assumptions, because the authors of anonymous telegram channels do not provide any facts or evidence indicating that Biden is “merging” Ukraine. So far, there are no signs of secret negotiations between the United States and Russia on the situation in Ukraine, even in a behind-the-scenes format. Moreover, the topic of support for Ukraine continues to be a priority for US foreign policy: both for Biden's party (Democrats) and his opponents, Republicans in particular. The next package of military assistance to Ukraine announced during the visit is a confirmation that the United States is not withdrawing from the issue, but rather is strengthening support.

Russian propagandists spread speculation about the so-called “new peace conditions” supposedly brought in by Biden. Russian propaganda is actively using this message to transfer responsibility for the continuation of the war from the aggressor to the victim.

The air raid sirens were turned on for the sake of a “picture” to scare President Biden

At the moment when there were official reports that the US President had flown to Kyiv, air raids continued in the capital, as in other cities of Ukraine. Therefore, a message appeared in anonymous telegram channels that this was, they say, “another performance” for Biden. Allegedly, the Ukrainian authorities specially staged a performance for the US president to suppress pity and intimidate a little.

This is not a new propaganda message. Russian propaganda always uses it when Western partners come to Kyiv on working visits. Also, propagandists from time to time claim that the Ukrainian authorities use the air raid signal as a lever to intimidate Ukrainians, or vice versa - do not turn it on so as not to frighten. In addition, such messages should deceive the significance of the announcement of alerts - to warn of danger from Russia.

In fact, only a limited circle of people has information about the reasons for triggering an air raid alert.

Biden's visit is only self-promotion for Biden and Zelenskyi.

Like, the visit of the President of the United States to Ukraine is just an attempt “to save Biden’s dead rating” in his country and “calm down Ukrainians disappointed in Zelenskyi”. Although this information is available only to those involved in such measures, a number of important issues of interaction between the two countries are often discussed during state visits, namely economic, cultural and security initiatives. The results of such conversations can be seen within a few weeks after the end of the visit.

Propagandists actively use the natural lack of information about conversations during meetings to spread their own, unsubstantiated fabrications.

Biden came to “punish” the Office of the President

Propagandists continue to spread the narrative about “external governance” and the non-subjectivity of Ukraine. They say that the “owner” came to Ukraine because his “subordinates” “failed to fulfill the basic instructions” of the United States. As a “consequence”, no additional assistance is expected. In fact, the “instructions” of the United States and various Western institutions are advisory in nature. And the level of assistance provided by the West and the United States can be influenced by Ukraine's fulfillment of its obligations, and not by the presence of recommendations. Also, we note that now, during the war, a decrease in aid may cause more condemnation towards Biden than support, especially from his political opponents. There is also no evidence or facts to support this propaganda message. However, by spreading it, they are trying to establish the opinion that the US and other Western partners are disappointed in the actions of the Ukrainian authorities, so the propagandists create the appearance that Ukraine will soon allegedly be left without external support.

Biden “cripples churches” with his presence

The authors of anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Russian rhetoric also claimed that Biden is “antichrist in human form”, destroying Ukrainian spirituality with his visit. Like, that's why you can't “save” Ukraine from “Western satanic networks”.

Such messages should be considered in the context of conspiracy theories regarding the President of the United States. According to them, Joe Biden is a satanist and a pedophile. In fact, the President of the United States is a catholic and often mentions his faith in speeches.

Joe Biden's visit to Kyiv has already acquired historical significance, as it is the first visit by a US leader to Ukraine in 15 years. We recall that earlier Detector Media prepared a selection of messages about the visit of Volodymyr Zelenskyi to the United States.

A video is circulating on social networks, in which, allegedly, American President Joe Biden confirms that the Third World War has already begun. Like, for the offensive in Ukraine they will use equipment and aircraft with American pilots and crews. This is manipulation.

Part of the video and a quote taken out of context are being distributed on social networks. Biden's quote was taken from his speech at the Democratic House of Representatives conference in Philadelphia back in March 2022. As the VoxCheck fact-checkers explain, Biden is clear that Russia's military aggression against Ukraine will not escalate into World War III. Further, he notes that this is possible on the condition that, along with weapons, the United States will send American specialists to Ukraine. It was this part of speech that was used for manipulation.

Russian propaganda has previously spread the message that the Third World War is going on in Ukraine. This message is used, among other things, to explain the duration and failures of the so-called “special military operation” as they say that Russia is at war not only with Ukraine, but also with the “collective West”.

Social networks and anonymous pro-Russian telegram channels spread information that Ukrainians will allegedly canonize US President Joe Biden as a saint. Like, he made a huge contribution to the development of the state and helps in the fight against the aggressor. The authors of such messages add a screenshot, which depicts an alleged petition on the change.org website with a corresponding request to Epifanii, Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine. However, this is not true.

First, there is no such petition on change.org. Consequently, the propagandists created a pseudo-petition with the help of a graphical editor. Secondly, this statement is baseless since the Orthodox Church of Ukraine cannot list the President of the United States as a saint. To do this, at a minimum, Biden needs to profess Orthodoxy.

Photos from the visit of Volodymyr Zelenskyi to the United States are massively distributed on social networks and telegrams. In the photo, the President of Ukraine is shot with the US presidential couple from the back. Each spouse hugs Zelenskyi, and Joe Biden's hand is allegedly placed indecently at the same time. This photo is fake.

MythDetector and Reuters fact-checkers checked the photo and found that it was altered using photo editors. In the authentic version of the photo, Biden's hand is placed on Zelenskyi's back, next to his wife's hand. The photo was published by the first lady of the United States on her official Twitter page.