Disinfo: After the coup in 2014, Ukraine is acting according to the dictates of the West

Summary

After the coup in 2014, all important decisions were made outside Ukraine. That is why the current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, like his predecessor Petro Poroshenko, is acting according to the dictates of the West with the US at the helm.

Disproof

There was no coup d’état in Ukraine in 2014; this is a longstanding pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine's Euromaidan protests, connected with the recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine, which it claims is under external control from the US or EU. Ukraine is a sovereign state, not controlled by any foreign government.

The spontaneous onset of the Euromaidan protests was a reaction from several segments of the Ukrainian population to former President Yanukovych’s sudden departure from the promised Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013, after pressure from Russia. See the full debunk The Western-backed coup in Ukraine has torn the country asunder.

The West did not interfere in Ukraine in 2014. Ukraine is a sovereign state. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by almost the whole world, including the EU. The EU and the US work closely with Ukraine and support the democratic development of Ukraine in accordance with the UN Charter’s principles of non-interference into internal affairs and respect towards territorial integrity and political independence.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 240
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 07/04/2021
  • Article language(s) German
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, US, Russia
  • Keywords: Coup, Euromaidan, Petro Poroshenko, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian statehood
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Disinfo: The UN opposes sanctions, which are illegal and aren’t part of international law

The policy of sanctions is now an everyday occurrence, despite the stance of the UN against this kind of tools, which are illegal. They are against the international law, but Washington, Brussels, London and others don’t seem to care.

Disproof

The claim is false.

Chapter VII of the UN Charter establishes the legal basis for the imposition of coercive measures through the United Nations, including sanctions.

Disinfo: In 2020 Italy called for help with the pandemic and only non EU countries helped

In March 2020, Italy, the first European country to be affected, called for help in the face of the pandemic.

There was no answer and finally it was non-EU member countries which brought them help. This is the sign of a lack of solidarity between the states of the EU. Fortunately Ursula von der Leyen ended up apologising on behalf of the Union. During the first months of the pandemic it was a bit of every man for himself.

Disproof

Recurrent disinformation narrative about the lack of solidarity from the EU and its members to Italy at the beginning of the pandemic contrasting with alleged help from non-EU members.

The narrative has been repeatedly debunked. The European Commission took multiple initiatives to help Italy and other member states deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, including support to the economy.

Disinfo: A 4-year-old child died in Donbas after Ukrainian army drone attack

According to reports, a child was killed after a Ukrainian army drone attacked a civilian settlement.

Disproof

Reports by pro-Kremlin media about a boy allegedly killed by a drone attack by the Ukrainian army on April 3, 2021 cannot be considered true. Rather, the cause of death appears to be an accident with explosives/old ammunition and not by a drone attack.

RT German and other pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets spread information that a child allegedly died as a result of a Ukrainian drone attack in the NGCA [Non-Government-controlled-area] of Donbas. These reports refer to the “people’s police” of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic”, which made a similar statement on April 3, 2021.