Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (tantamount to propaganda) Richard Stengel posted a "dipnote" on the State Department’s official blog, labelling the work of RT.com as propaganda, that is to say of "deliberate dissemination of information that you know to be false or misleading in order to influence an audience.”

The Under Secretary of State makes fun of the "constant reference to all Ukrainian opposed the Russian grip on the country as a terrorist and blind repetition of the ridiculous assertion last week that the United States has invested $ 5 billion in regime change in Ukraine. These are not facts or opinions . These are false allegations, and when the propaganda presented as news, it creates real dangers and gives the green light to violence."

However, Russia Today was not alluding to the numerous accounts of direct funding that the Maidan protesters have received from the U.S. Embassy in Kiev, but to the address delivered by Victoria Nuland herself, before the US-Ukraine Foundation in the middle of the crisis EuroMaidan. On that occasion, speaking on behalf of the State Department, the diplomat stated that "Since Ukraine’s independence in 1991, the United States has supported Ukrainians as they build democratic skills and institutions, as they promote civic participation and good governance, all of which are preconditions for Ukraine to achieve its European aspirations. We’ve invested over $5 billion to assist Ukraine in these and other goals that will ensure a secure and prosperous and democratic Ukraine." [1]

At first glance, the U.S. propaganda chief appears to contradict Victoria Nuland’s remarks. Taking a closer look, he changes the version by simply switching speakers.

[1] Remarks by Victoria Nuland at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation Conference”, Voltaire Network, 13 December 2013.