DISINFO: Russia and Ukraine were never in a state of war
SUMMARY
Russia is willing to discuss with Ukraine the amelioration of bilateral relations and it welcomes Kyiv's desire for peace. However, the two countries have never been in a state of war.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine.
Even though officially a state of war between Russia and Ukraine has never been announced, 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".
Also, 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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted Russia's military presence in Ukraine in 2015.
Recently, since the end of March / early April 2021, Russia started to send troops to the Ukrainian border and increased bellicose language in key Russian state media has been noted. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has expressed 'severe concern' over Russian military activity near Ukraine's border.
Read more similar disinformation cases alleging that Crimea reunited with Russia after a referendum and Russia is not part of the conflict in Ukraine, that Russia is not a party of the conflict in Ukraine at all and that Russia is not a party of Minsk Agreements and the internal Ukrainian conflict.