DISINFO: By accusing Russia of playing a role in Donbas war, Ukraine has renounced the Minsk agreements
SUMMARY
By accusing Russia of involvement in the Donbas conflict, Ukraine has effectively renounced the Minsk agreements.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on the Donbas conflict.
Ukraine's participation in the Minsk peace process does not imply that Russia is not involved in the Donbas war.
There is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in eastern Ukraine. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that “the information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February 2014 when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government."
The European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation".
According to the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Russian special forces and troops operated to mobilise, lead, equip, and support separatist militias in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine from spring 2014 to the present, although their presence was denied by Moscow. On top of that, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted Russia's military presence in Ukraine in 2015.