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.
RESPONSE
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.