1. Write a brief overall summary of your findings.
After fact-checking the claim that Joe Biden is responsible for both the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel–Hamas war, I found that the claim is misleading and not supported by evidence. The available information shows that these conflicts were started by other actors, Russia in Ukraine and Hamas in Israel, rather than by Biden.
2. What primary sources did you find (e.g., transcripts, videos of politician speeches, tweets from public figures, scientific studies)? For each source, write at least one or two sentences explaining what you learned. Include all links.
- United Nations (Ukraine War Overview)
https://unric.org/en/the-un-and-the-war-in-ukraine-key-information/
This source explains that Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It confirms that the decision to start the war came directly from the Russian government under Vladimir Putin.
- United Nations Report on October 7 Attacks
https://www.un.org/unispal/document/coi-attacks-7october2023-report-10jun24/
This report shows that the Israel–Hamas war began with attacks carried out by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on October 7, 2023. It identifies the groups responsible for initiating the conflict.
3. What secondary sources did you find (e.g., newspapers, magazines)? Only use secondary sources if sufficient primary sources are not available. For each source, write at least one or two sentences explaining what you learned. Include all links.
Reuters (Putin Orders Military Operation)
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-putin-authorises-military-operations-donbass-domestic-media-2022-02-24/
Reuters reports that Vladimir Putin authorized the invasion of Ukraine. This supports the idea that Russia made the decision to start the war.
4. What potential biases or interests might each of your sources have?
The United Nations aims to provide factual, international reporting, but it may reflect a global institutional perspective focused on peace and accountability.
Reuters is generally considered reliable and neutral, however, it depends on sources such as government officials and reports.
Any source claiming Biden is responsible may have political bias, especially if it comes from opinion-based platforms.
5. What evidence supports the claim you are fact-checking?
There is no strong direct evidence showing that Joe Biden caused either war. Some people argue that U.S. foreign policy decisions may have influenced global tensions, but this is opinion-based and does not prove direct responsibility.
6. What evidence undermines the claim you are fact-checking?
The invasion of Ukraine was initiated by Russia, led by Vladimir Putin.
The Israel–Hamas war began with the October 7 attack by Hamas.
These events were direct actions by those groups, not by Joe Biden or the U.S. government.
7. What happened when you tried contacting the person or group who made the original claim? (Always try to contact them—it’s okay if you don’t get a reply. For example, if the claim is that the president said something, try reaching out to the administration. If it was a Bluesky user, message that user on Bluesky.)
I was not able to contact the person who made the original claim.