Here's the United States director of national intelligence on national TV pushing proven falsehoods and talking points that could have come straight from the Kremlin. I'll address them here:
-Elections were not "canceled," they are postponed under martial law, as set out in Ukraine's constitution. Ukrainians do want elections, but only once a peace can be guaranteed with security assurances that will deter Russia from attacking again. Why are such security guarantees necessary? Because there are millions of Ukrainians living under Russian occupation, millions more who've been displaced, a million or so military – and all these people would need to be granted the chance to freely vote, which cannot happen under the Russian gun. Moreover, Ukrainians overwhelmingly support Zelensky and none of them are questioning his legitimacy. There are two countries who are questioning his legitimacy: Russia and the US.
-Ukraine's political opposition is not silent; they criticize Zelensky even in wartime. There is still a healthy political discourse and competition in the country.
-Churches are not being shutdown as she mentions; the Moscow-run arm of the Orthodox church which has a proven track record of operating as branch of the FSB has been barred from practicing.
-"Total government control of the media"? Hardly. Independent news outlets are plentiful in Ukraine, and they report critically on the president and the military; many focus on exposing corruption.
-Gabbard also asks what Ukrainians are fighting for and whether they actually value freedom. Ukrainians are engaged in an existential fight. They are fighting and dying for freedom and independence – and they have done so since Russia first invaded in 2014. Ukrainians also led two revolutions – the Orange and Euromaidan/Revolution of Dignity – over corruption, state violence, political repression. The latter saw more than 100 pro-democracy protesters killed on Kyiv's main square, aptly named Independence Square. If there is anyone right now in the world who understands what freedom means and what it costs, its the Ukrainians.
Given an easy opportunity to criticize Putin, Gabbard immediately pivots to bashing Zelenskyy