Disinfo: Europe may avenge Ukraine for US sanctions

Summary

(Germany and France are currently in a complicated relationship with the USA. Germany openly supports and defends the project Nord Stream 2. Under these circumstances, the imposition of anti-stream sanctions would have interesting counter effects. Punishing the USA for sanctions is complicated and costly, but punishing the US ally in Europe, i.e. Ukraine would be very EU-like.”) The obvious option of revenge: Europe will stop defending the prospects of Ukrainian gas transit after 2020.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on EU-Ukraine relations and a conspiracy theory. The EU sees Ukraine as a priority partner. It supports Ukraine in ensuring a stable, prosperous, and democratic future for its citizens, and unequivocally supports Ukraine’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty. Relations between Ukraine and the EU are based on the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, which affirms Ukraine’s independence and inviolability of borders. The Association Agreement, including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), is the main tool for bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together, promoting deeper political ties, stronger economic links and respect for common values. Since 2014, the EU and the European Financial Institutions have mobilised a package of more than €15 billion in grants and loans to support Ukraine’s reform process – the biggest support package in the EU’s history. In 2017, the EU approved visa-free travel for Ukrainians. For more information about EU-Ukraine relations, see here. Far from destabilising Ukraine, the EU and its Member States have been actively engaged in seeking a solution to the conflict caused by Russia's annexation of Crimea and military intervention in eastern Ukraine. The EU supports this process and continues to treat the implementation of the Minsk agreements as an absolute priority for Ukraine’s security.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 176
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25/11/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: gas, Nord Stream 2, Eastern Partnership, European Union
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Disinfo: Ukraine does not fulfil key point of Minsk agreements on negotiations with "LDNR"

The Ukrainian government does not fulfil the key requirement of the Minsk agreements on direct negotiations with the leadership of the LNR and the DNR.

Disproof

This is a common Kremlin narrative that Ukraine refuses to implement the Minsk agreements. Since 2014, negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict in the Donbas have been held within the framework of the Normandy format and the Minsk process. A special Trilateral contact group is working on a peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas. Three parties are involved in this process: representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE. Unofficially, representatives of the "LDNR" factions are also present. The second set of measures to implement the Minsk agreements was signed on 12 February 2015. The first paragraph of the document relates to an immediate ceasefire. Next, it is necessary to withdraw heavy weapons, ensure OSCE monitoring, release prisoners, grant Donbas special status and hold local elections, amnesty the parties to the conflict and restore control over the Ukrainian-Russian border in the conflict zone. There are no conditions that the Ukrainian authorities should conduct direct negotiations with the leaders of the "LDNR" factions in the Minsk agreements.

Disinfo: Ukraine is governed from abroad and has lost its territories because of "Russophobia"

Today Ukraine is governed from abroad as it betted on Russophobia and as a result lost its industry, Crimea, thousands of people, and is losing Donbas.

Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about Ukraine, the war in Ukraine and the sovereignty of Ukraine. Ukraine is recognised in international law as a sovereign nation-state, with its own flag, nationality, language and with a democratically-elected president and parliament. Ukraine is not controlled by any foreign government, while its sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by most of the free world but have been violated by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since February 2014.

Disinfo: The US and EU control Ukraine

Ukraine never existed as an independent state. The country is under external control.

Disproof

Another conspiracy theory that the United States and the European Union control Ukraine’s foreign and domestic policies.

Ukraine is an independent state whose sovereignty is respected both in the EU and in the USA. The United States recognised Ukraine as an independent state on December 25, 1991. Since then, Washington has been working closely with Ukraine, directing its assistance to support the development of a safe, democratic, prosperous and free Ukraine, fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community. The European Union also supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Ukraine is a priority partner for the EU. In June 2014, the EU and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, which promotes deeper political ties, stronger economic links and the respect for common values.