On February 28, discussions on X about the Trump-Zelensky meeting surged, generating over 1.5 million messages in 24 hours, with many promoting pro-Russian views. A study revealed 77,951 tweets from 34,589 French accounts, amplifying negative sentiments toward Ukraine. The analysis discovered accounts created for disinformation, linking Zelensky to controversial figures. Misleading posts, including a false video of Zelensky in prison attire, exemplified the coordinated efforts to manipulate public perception and incite conflict.
On Friday, February 28, as the day drew to a close, discussions on X surrounding the meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky were impossible to ignore. This historic encounter between the two leaders generated over 1.5 million messages linking their names within the first 24 hours, according to insights from Visibrain, a platform dedicated to social media monitoring. Notably, many of these messages, particularly in French, appeared to promote pro-Russian narratives and sought to sway public opinion.
Analyzing the Social Media Landscape
A study conducted by Agoratlas revealed that 77,951 tweets related to the Trump-Zelensky meeting were posted by 34,589 French-speaking accounts. The analysis indicated that a significant number of these accounts, some newly established, seemed to artificially amplify negative sentiments towards Ukraine and its allies, including President Zelensky.
Clément Hammel, CEO of Agoratlas, stated, “Our goal was to scrutinize all messages surrounding the Zelensky-Trump meeting, regardless of their tone.” The findings were striking: the research uncovered a lack of any pro-Zelensky discourse. Instead, messages critical of Ukraine displayed characteristics typical of an ‘astroturfing’ operation, which manipulates public perception on specific issues. Florent Lefebvre, the company’s scientific director, noted, “In the week leading up to the meeting, we tracked at least 850 accounts that were created solely to discuss this event.”
Revealing the Disinformation Tactics
Another troubling aspect highlighted by the study involved accounts that had been established during Trump’s inauguration, which were reactivated to disseminate anti-Ukrainian messages for this recent meeting. Utilizing a tool from Viginum, an organization focused on countering foreign digital interference in France, Agoratlas identified numerous instances of duplicated content. Many of these messages, originating from accounts with minimal followers, aimed to undermine Volodymyr Zelensky by linking him to figures such as Emmanuel Macron or Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission.
Among the disinformation circulating, one notable case involved Oleksandr Dubinsky, incorrectly described as a “Ukrainian deputy” calling for Zelensky’s impeachment. In reality, Dubinsky has not held office since November 2023, having been convicted of treason and accused of working for Russian intelligence—claims he denies. The messages misrepresented a call made from his prison cell.
The Verification team also encountered instances of misleading posts regarding Zelensky’s visit to the United States. One viral message showcased a fake video of a supposed advertisement in Times Square featuring Zelensky in prison attire, generated by Grok, a generative AI chatbot. Despite being repeated verbatim across various accounts, this advertisement never aired and is part of a broader pattern of fictitious anti-Ukraine promotions.
Florent Lefebvre succinctly stated, “Bots lack true freedom of expression.” He further remarked on the significant influence these accounts wield, capable of posting 1,000 to 1,500 messages daily. Clément Hammel added, “What’s particularly alarming is the one-sided nature of these coordinated communications, all pushing in the same direction,” suggesting an intent to incite a prolonged conflict, with blame directed at the Ukrainian president—echoing statements from Donald Trump just days prior.
For inquiries or to share any concerning information, please reach out to us at [email protected]. You can also find our team on X under the handle @verif_TF1LCI.