President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the independent initiative of Ukrainian journalists to unite to create a single telethon. This project aims to combat misinformation and propaganda that is spread both inside and outside the country.
That's how he answered the New Yorker journalist's question about whether the fact that TV channels show news in a "coordinated manner" in a marathon does not violate democracy.
"Journalists in Ukraine have decided to join forces to fight against Russian disinformation," Zelenskyi said.
"The fact that the news departments of six TV channels have merged does not mean that the channels themselves have been destroyed. They exist in the same way as before. They kept their places in the broadcast lineup. They are free to show what they want. But this telethon has become a resource for people who, say, don't have electricity or who see drones flying overhead," the president said.
He added that "the telethon gives the truth."
Earlier polls showed a decline in the telethon's popularity.
Western media published critical publications about the telethon in the context of problems with freedom of speech in Ukraine.
