There’s this cultural exchange program going on at my university where I’m supposed to do a zoom call with people living in Kiev, Ukraine. The war will be mentioned as part of the meeting. Should I bs them or should I tell them that I don’t support their Nazi military and government?
Edit: I know someone from Donetsk who’s now fighting for the Donetsk People’s Republic. Should I mention him?
Zoom calls can be recorded and zoom itself may keep a record. Don’t give any more personal details than the minimum. You don’t know who might end up with a recording.
I’d focus on asking them questions. I would not ask leading or political questions, etc, or start talking about someone in the enemy military. The latter is insensitive, to say the least; the person you’re talking to might have lost their brother or cousin to that person in the enemy military.
I can’t imagine that you will be assumed to be anything but in full support of Ukraine. So I don’t know how the opportunity to bs them(?) would come up unless you mention it. If you say that you don’t support Ukraine, and make things ‘awkward’ for the cultural exchange students, I imagine there will be a disciplinary action of some sort: if you’re part of this, you’re representing your university.
Personally, I would have no difficulty in asking them about their lives or expressing my sympathy and wish for Ukrainians to stop dying in a war they didn’t ask for. That wouldn’t be bs.