He put forward this claim during a candid interview with POLITICO conducted on April 9. The comedian-turned-president shed light on what he perceives as the infiltration of Russian influence both within the U.S. political arena and the global media landscape at large.
Zelensky's remarks came as a response to two Republican lawmakers – Ohio Rep. Mike Turner and Texas Rep. Mike McCaul – commenting about the delay of the approval of the $60 billion aid package for Kyiv. According to the two, "pro-Russian" propaganda has seeped into the minds of their colleagues in the House of Representatives – causing the aid package to be held up. (Related: U.S. expedites delivery of $300M in military aid to Ukraine.)
"[Moscow has distorted] the information field of the world," he said. "They have their lobbies everywhere: In the U.S., in the [European Union] countries, in Britain, in Latin America [and] in Africa. When we talk about the [U.S.] Congress, do you notice how they work with society in the United States?"
Zelensky also noted that the scale of Russian influence in the U.S. has been underestimated. He then proceeded to accuse certain Americans, particularly those affiliated with specific media groups, of amplifying pro-Moscow narratives within American media outlets.
The Ukrainian leader suggested that these individuals play a pivotal role in disseminating messages that align with Russia's agenda, thereby influencing public discourse and undermining Kyiv's interests. However, he did not name these individuals during his interview with POLITICO.
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Zelensky and Western allies censor Russian media
The Ukrainian president's remarks come amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West, particularly in the aftermath of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. The conflict, which began in February 2022, has been ongoing for more than two years as of writing.
Western governments have implemented stringent measures targeting Russian media outlets deemed to be under state control, resulting in the blocking or suspension of several channels, including Russia Today, in the U.S. and other Western countries.
In response to the crackdown on Russian media, Moscow has accused Western governments of stifling press freedom and infringing upon the rights of Russian journalists working abroad.
Sergey Ryabkov, Russian deputy foreign minister, criticized Washington's efforts to suppress Russian media globally. He asserted that such actions undermine fundamental principles of freedom of speech and expression.
The exchange between Zelensky and U.S. lawmakers reflects broader concerns over the influence of disinformation and propaganda in shaping public opinion and policy decisions, particularly in the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions.
It can be recalled that a year ago, Ukraine – along with seven other countries in Central and Eastern Europe – called for technology companies to combat "disinformation" on social media platforms. The letter addressed to Big Tech giants such as Mark Zuckerberg's Meta called on the implementation of "effective measures that curb the spread of misleading content and foreign interference."
"Specific steps recommended in the letter include refusing payments from sanctioned individuals, increasing algorithmic transparency and adjusting algorithms to prioritize accuracy over user engagement," Reclaim The Net mentioned. "Furthermore, [the letter exhorted] platforms [to] dedicate adequate resources to content 'moderation' and address the growing challenges posed by deepfakes and AI-generated disinfo."
"In response, Meta said it has expanded its fact-checking capabilities in Eastern Europe and implemented measures to combat alleged misinformation related to the conflict in Ukraine. The company has also restricted access to Russian state-controlled media and added labels to related posts, informing users of the source before they click or share."
Watch this video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lamenting how the world's attention is no longer on Ukraine.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
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