DISINFO: Merkel admitted that the Minsk agreements were a ruse to rearm Ukrainian armed forces

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, trying to legitimise Russia’s military actions. This narrative claims that the West, in particular France and Germany, and Ukraine are responsible for the war, because Kyiv allegedly did not implement the Minsk agreements.

This narrative is supported by misleading interpretations of 2022 interviews with former German Chancellor Merkel.

Merkel is clear that she had no illusions about the possibility of establishing a lasting peace through the Minsk talks and the only goal was to reach an agreement that would prevent the immediate takeover of all of Ukraine by Russia, which at that time fueled and participated in armed hostilities in Ukraine. The topic of compliance with the agreements is not discussed during the interview.

Before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 Feb. 2022, Russia was a party to the Minsk agreements, and these are the most recent formal documents in which Russia has affirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia has however not delivered on its side of the implementation of the Minsk agreements. The Russian side and its proxies failed to implement a ceasefire, withdraw all heavy weapons, implement all-for-all political prisoner exchange, or ensure delivery of humanitarian assistance based on an international mechanism. On the contrary, Russia strengthening the illegal armed formations in eastern Ukraine. Russia also did not allow for unfettered access to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission monitors, including to the Ukraine-Russia border, where the (very limited) monitoring mission was discontinued due to a Russian veto in summer 2021.

Without the full implementation of the ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons as well as permission for the full access to all territories for the OSCE monitoring mission, it is difficult to discuss the implementation of the political parts of Minsk II. Nevertheless, Ukraine implemented as much of the Minsk agreements as can reasonably be done while not having control over the territory and addressed every point. Ukraine has passed – and extended with renewals – legislation on special status and amnesty (2014), and prepared draft legislation on local elections (2014). Ukraine passed constitutional amendments to provide more autonomy to the territories currently beyond its control (2015).

The US and EU did not aim to escalate relations with Russia and were not preparing for military conflict. Moscow’s overall aggressive policy has led to a tougher and better-balanced policy towards it by the West.

See similar cases claiming that Ukraine and the West did not intend to observe the Minsk agreements, that Minsk agreements were signed only to buy time and arm Ukraine for war on Russia, that Kyiv never respected the Minsk Agreements, used them to attack and rearm and that France, Germany failed to encourage Ukraine's implementation of the Minsk agreements.