Ahead of Trump–Zelensky meeting, Kremlin propaganda shares video of captured U.S. armored vehicle flying both U.S. and Russian flags on the battlefield
A few hours before U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are set to meet at the White House, Russian state propaganda outlet RT published a video of a vehicle, purportedly a captured American M113 armored personnel carrier, flying both U.S. and Russian flags.
According to RT, the vehicle is shown “rushing into battle” in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. The outlet claimed the M113 was “restored” after its capture and is now being used by Russian forces. Shortly after RT published the footage, it was shared widely by pro-war Russian Telegram channels.
Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, commenting on the video, said it shows Russia has no real intention of stopping the war. “Using a captured American M113 APC, now emblazoned with russian and US flags, russia is sending a signal of its ‘peace intentions’ in the frontlines of Zaporizhzhia region,” the center wrote.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, also weighed in: “In effect, the Russians are using American symbols in their terrorist, expansionist war that kills civilians. This is the height of brazenness.”
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The video comes just days after Trump’s controversial summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, where the two leaders discussed possible terms for ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Before the summit, Trump threatened “severe consequences” if Putin didn’t agree to end the war. While the talks ended without any major breakthroughs, Trump has not announced new penalties against Moscow. Instead, he has echoed Putin’s position that Ukraine would need to cede territory to Russia in any deal, ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, and suggested that the onus for ending the war lies on Zelensky.
Zelensky and Trump are scheduled to meet Monday afternoon at the White House for bilateral talks. Later, they’ll be joined by several European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
