Fact Check: Was Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly close with Jeffrey Epstein?

WASHINGTON, DC: A viral post has sparked a controversy online after claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was once closely associated with Jeffrey Epstein, citing alleged leaked security footage from Epstein’s private island. 

The claim quickly spread across social media, raising questions about its authenticity. The speculation comes in the wake of the 2026 Epstein file releases, which reference Zelenskyy only briefly in unrelated 2019 email discussions about Ukraine’s elections, prompting a closer fact-check of the viral allegation.

Claim: Volodymyr Zelenskyy was reportedly close with Jeffrey Epstein

According to an X post by the user @DanielGilr44222, claims have surfaced regarding alleged ties between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Jeffrey Epstein. The post stated, “Zelensky was reportedly close with Jeffrey Epstein.”

It also included four images alongside the message, claiming, “Newly surfaced security camera footage leaked from Epstein’s properties appears to show the Ukrainian leader spending time on his private island and engaging with him in intimate, non-public settings.”

The post concluded with the hashtag, “#ItsAllOfThem.” The user further shared another post, writing, “In 2019, Zelensky asked Epstein for advice after winning Ukraine’s presidency. Epstein texted Summers: Ukraine and Zelensky seeking help; Putin saw him as run by Israelis. Summers agreed, citing Pinchuk and debt relief. Weeks before Epstein’s arrest.”

Fact Check: Images of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Jeffrey Epstein are AI-generated

However, the alleged images of Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Jeffrey Epstein are not authentic, and claims suggesting any personal or criminal ties between them are false. 

Fact-checking and visual inconsistencies, such as the mismatch in appearance timelines, including Zelenskyy’s look during 2019 when Epstein died, indicate that the circulating images are manipulated or AI-generated, despite being presented online as “leaked” material. Reports labeling them as evidence of a relationship have been identified as misinformation.

The recently released 2026 Epstein files mention Volodymyr Zelenskyy only in passing, primarily in relation to 2019 emails and media discussions about Ukraine’s election and broader political developments. 

There is no evidence in these documents of meetings, travel to Epstein’s properties, or any form of direct association. Although Zelenskyy’s name appears approximately 24–29 times in the released materials, the references are largely indirect and often come from news articles or political commentary circulated within Epstein’s correspondence.

Despite this, some online accounts and media outlets, including segments of Russian state media, have used selective interpretations of the files to suggest a connection. However, independent analyses have found that these narratives are unsubstantiated and frequently align with broader disinformation patterns, often amplified alongside manipulated or AI-generated imagery to support misleading claims about Ukrainian leadership.