CLAIM: France has refused to hand over information to the US about the owners of 12 villas as part of an investigation into corruption crimes in Ukraine.
VERDICT: There is no substantiated evidence as of March 26, 2025, to factually confirm the claim. It appears to originate from unverified posts on X, by a known pro-Russian disinformation peddling account, and lacks backing from reliable, independent sources.
The claim that France has refused to hand over information to the US about the owners of 12 villas as part of an investigation into corruption crimes in Ukraine has surfaced recently, notably in posts on X dated March 25, 2025. Most notably, the claim gained traction from the “Sprinter Observer” account on X. Sprinter Observer is an account that frequently publishes pro-Russian disinformation (examples here, here and here).
These posts lack specific details, such as the source of the information, the nature of the investigation, or official documentation to substantiate the claim. Without corroboration from established news organizations or government releases, the claim remains unverified.
A review of recent news and web content related to France, Ukraine, and U.S. investigations into corruption does not mention any such refusal by France to cooperate with the U.S. on this specific matter. For instance, reports from reputable sources like Le Monde, AP News, and Reuters have covered France’s actions against Russian oligarchs’ assets post-Ukraine invasion and Ukraine’s internal corruption scandals, and government actions, but none reference a U.S. request for information on 12 villas or a French refusal to comply. Oligarchs Ihor Kolomoyskyi and Yevheny Borysov are two notable cases of individuals that have been prosecuted by the Ukrainian authorities for corruption.
Additionally, France and the U.S. have a history of cooperation on legal and intelligence matters, often governed by mutual legal assistance treaties, which makes an outright refusal plausible only under specific legal or diplomatic circumstances—none of which are detailed in the claim or supported by current evidence.
Given the lack of concrete evidence beyond social media, the claim should be treated as inconclusive at this time. Social media can reflect current sentiment or rumors but is insufficient on its own to establish facts, especially on matters involving international investigations. Until official statements from the U.S. or French governments, or detailed reporting from credible journalistic sources emerge, the assertion that France has refused to provide this information cannot be confirmed as true or false—it remains unverified.
Allegations about luxury purchases from Volodimir Zelenskyy, his wife, and high ranking officials, are a common narrative of Russian propaganda.
In summary, there is no substantiated evidence as of March 26, 2025, to factually confirm the claim. It appears to originate from unverified posts on X, by a known pro-Russian, disinformation peddling account, and lacks backing from reliable, independent sources.