DISINFO: The EU has decided that Ukraine does not deserve much attention
SUMMARY
The European Union, having seen enough of this ugly nonsense, has decided that Ukraine, which has become a stumbling-block in EU-Russia relations, does not deserve that much attention. The question of Crimea has been put in brackets. We cannot claim that sanctions will be lifted, most likely not, however they will no longer have this sick attitude to the question of Crimea or sailors that Ukraine considers prisoners of war.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about abandoned Ukraine. It also plays on common disinformation narratives about the annexation of Crimea and the Kerch Strait incident. The disinformation message appeared after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted to reinstate Russia's voting rights. However, the European Union and the Council of Europe are two separate entities. The European Union continues to support the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and maintains a strict non-recognition policy with regard to the illegal annexation of Crimea. The Council of Europe has also condemned the illegal annexation of Crimea. Furthermore, in response to Russia's aggression in the Kerch Strait, during which Russia arrested Ukrainian sailors, the European Council added 8 Russian officials to the sanctions list for "undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine".