US senator calls on retired F-16 pilots to come 'fight for freedom' in Ukraine after meeting with Zelenskyy
Business InsiderAug 19
The Facts
Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy allegedly approved the plan to blow up Russia's Nord Stream pipelines. However, according to the Wall Street Journal report, after the CIA learned of the alleged operation and called on the Ukrainian leader to pull the plug, he called it off.
But according to the sources who spoke to the Journal — said to include four Ukrainian military and intelligence officials with knowledge of the alleged plans — Ukraine's military leader at the time, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, now the country's ambassador to Britain, went ahead regardless.
The Spin
Pro-Ukraine narrative
Ukraine had no involvement in this operation. Only a team with extensive technical and financial resources could carry out such an attack. Therefore, all signs point to Russia being the perpetrator.
Pro-Russia narrative
Blaming Ukraine for this attack is a manufactured effort to absolve Western countries, who are the real perpetrators. Russia will not be fooled by such superficial efforts.