«Why Western partners see the war through Moscow’s lens — Zelenskyy explains
Zelenskyy is surprised at how Moscow’s fake narratives distort reality for Ukraine’s partners.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy / © Associated Press / © Associated Press
Russian information dumps twist Western partners’ perception of what’s really happening at the front.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this during a meeting with journalists on Thursday, December 11.
«I’m often stunned by how differently the battlefield looks depending on who’s doing the briefing. When our military explains the situation to Europeans and Americans — and then the Russians brief the Americans — the contrast is striking. Honestly, I don’t understand how this is possible, when everyone involved has access to satellite intelligence, and we rely on our partners’ satellite data, not Vice versa. Yet we still have to brief, still have to debunk some outright nonsense, because the understanding of what’s happening on the ground can be worlds apart, ” Zelenskyy remarked.
According to him, the Russians are stronger than any partners in the information battle, spreading falsehoods and presenting their wishes as reality.
«I think the key is for our military to work more closely with each other at their level. I constantly stress this to our troops — they need to be in daily contact with the Americans. Talking, briefing, sharing real information every single day. It’s tough, complex work. But when we show the same map, and we are told we are encircled while we say they are encircled — it blows my mind. I don’t understand how the military communicate among themselves. The same village, and we see it so differently. The only positive is that we hear each other, and time will answer these questions, ” Zelenskyy said.
He adds that time is once again confirming to the U.S. and other partners that Russian statements do not reflect reality, and that Ukraine is capable of far more than some had anticipated.
«Take Pokrovsk, supposedly „to be“ captured by the Russians back in summer, or what Putin recently said, claiming they had „encircled Kupiansk.“ They „encircled Kupiansk“ — and our partners get signals to confirm it. Honestly, I’m stunned by such questions. Everyone should have real, accurate information, especially those with powerful satellites, top-notch intelligence, and strong media — not just relying on what „someone said somewhere“ and passed along, ” the president concluded.