FACTS NOT FICTION AS AMERICA SIDES WITH RUSSIA ...

As the Trumpian propaganda train on Ukraine gathers momentum, it’s time to introduce some facts into the debate.

 The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based independent research organisation that provides fact-based data on conflicts, recently countered Trump’s claims.

 Trump: claimed Zelensky was an unelected dictator.

The facts: Zelensky was elected in a democratic national ballot in 2019 (with 75% of the popular vote). The Ukrainian constitution prohibits elections in wartime (ie once martial law has been declared, as it was when Russia invaded three years ago).

Trump: claimed Ukraine has lost millions of its people in the war.

The facts, Ukraine has lost around 46,000 killed - including 12,000 civilians - and almost 400,000 wounded. (That’s roughly Australia’s casualties in WWI.)

Trump: claimed the US has given $US200 billion more in aid to Ukraine than European nations. He said America had given $US350 billion.

The facts: The Kiel Institute for the World Economy says European nations have pledged $US204 billion against America’s $US183 billion.

Trump: claimed Zelensky had never sought negotiations with Putin.

The facts: Zelensky tried to meet with Putin days before the Russian invasion in February 2022. In March 2022, Zelensky tried again. Putin ignored him. Zelensky said he was even open to discussing the status of occupied territory provided the Ukrainian people could ratify any deal via a referendum. Putin rejected the offer.

As usual, Trump shoots from the lip, untrammelled by any need to stick to the facts.

And today, the United States split with its allies and voted against a UN resolution calling on Russia to pull its troops out of Ukraine.