During his latest press conference, known as the “Direct Line”, Russian leader Vladimir Putin once again made a series of high-profile claims about the situation on the battlefield, peace negotiations, relations with Europe, and the state of the Russian economy. However, most of these statements contradict the facts.

According to the Centre for Strategic Communications, here are the top five false claims.

The claim of an “offensive on all fronts” and the capture of Kupiansk and Vovchansk

Putin claimed that Russian forces were successfully advancing along the entire front line and had already taken control of Kupiansk and Vovchansk.

However, no authoritative source – including the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), DeepState, or official representatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces – has confirmed this. Fighting in these areas is ongoing, and changes to the front line remain limited and localized. Moreover, the situation for Russian forces in the Kupiansk sector remains challenging, casting doubt on the Kremlin’s claims of a “strategic success”.

The promise “not to strike Ukraine” on election day

Another statement concerned Russia’s alleged willingness to refrain from attacking Ukraine on election day.

In reality, such remarks are not a goodwill gesture. Experts view them as an attempt to impose the issue of elections during wartime on Ukraine and to interfere in the country’s internal affairs. Experience shows that Russia systematically targets civilian infrastructure regardless of specific dates and has repeatedly broken its own promises.

The claim of “readiness for peace” and compromises

Putin also stated that Moscow was supposedly ready for peace and had already made compromises.

In practice, however, the Kremlin’s concept of “peace” amounts to the full implementation of its ultimatums: Ukraine relinquishing part of its territory, weakening its military, and limiting its sovereign choices. Russia has demonstrated no genuine compromise proposals, either at international meetings or through public diplomacy.

Denial of a threat to Europe

Another claim concerned Russia’s alleged lack of plans to attack Europe, provided that Europe “respects” Russia.

However, the threat to European countries already exists in the form of hybrid warfare: cyberattacks, sabotage, interference in electoral processes, information operations, and energy coercion. The formula articulated by Putin is not a security guarantee but rather an instrument of political pressure.

Assurances that the economy is “under control”

Putin also sought to convince his audience that Russia’s economy is stable and that the government does not influence decisions made by the Central Bank.

The facts suggest otherwise. Higher VAT rates, record levels of public debt, expensive credit, and the informal coordination of regulatory decisions all point to deep structural problems. The reduction of the key interest rate during the “Direct Line” itself was interpreted by many experts as a political signal rather than evidence of an independent monetary policy.

In the pro-Russian segment of social media, a video bearing the logo of the German publication Die Welt is being actively circulated, claiming that a diplomatic incident allegedly occurred in Ukraine. The authors of the video claim that while expressing condolences to the victims of the terrorist attack in Sydney, Ukrainian diplomats supposedly confused Australia with Austria.

This was reported by StopFake.

The video also claims that this was not the first such incident: according to the narrative, the Office of the President of Ukraine had previously referred to JD Vance as “DJ Vance”. In addition, the report makes the baseless assertion that Australian law enforcement authorities are investigating a supposed “Ukrainian connection” to the terrorist attack and suspect that the weapons and instructions used by the attackers may have originated from Ukraine.

Verification shows that both the video and the information it contains are fake. Die Welt primarily publishes content in German, and the last English-language content on its website appeared back in 2018. Neither the German-language nor any other version of the publication contains a report claiming that Ukrainian diplomats allegedly confused Australia with Austria.

No other reputable foreign or Ukrainian media outlet reported any such “mistake”, either by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or by the Office of the President regarding the name of JD Vance.

In reality, the Ukrainian authorities did officially respond to the tragedy in Sydney, although not through the Foreign Ministry’s account. Condolences were expressed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X:

“We extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and wish a speedy and full recovery to all those injured. Terror and hatred must never prevail – they must be defeated everywhere and always”.

In addition, Yuliia Svyrydenko commented on the tragedy in a Telegram post. She emphasized Ukraine’s solidarity with the people of Australia and expressed condolences to the families of the victims and those affected. Her statement was published in a post dedicated to the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah at the Government House together with representatives of Jewish communities.

Another sign of manipulation is the very structure of the video report: most of it is devoted to the fabricated “diplomatic blunder”, while the serious allegation that Ukraine allegedly supplied weapons to terrorists is mentioned only briefly at the very end of the video.

There is no evidence whatsoever to support this claim. Australian law enforcement authorities are not investigating any theory involving Ukrainian involvement in the terrorist attack. It is known that the older of the two attackers legally possessed his weapon as an official member of a shooting club.

It should be recalled that the shooting during Hanukkah celebrations on a beach in Sydney on 14 December claimed the lives of 16 people, including a ten-year-old girl from a family of immigrants from Ukraine. One of the attackers was shot dead at the scene, while the other sustained severe injuries and fell into a coma. The perpetrators were identified as a father and son who adhered to a radical Islamist ideology.