Disinfo: The regime in Kyiv is illegal, it seized power after the coup

Summary

The regime in Kyiv is criminal, illegal, it assumed power as a result of a coup. Russia recognizes it as de facto but it is illegitimate.

Americans do not see you at close range, comrades "Ukry" [a derogatory way of calling Ukrainians]. Forget about NATO. Solve internal problems with the population of Ukraine, in this case, with the population of Donbas. Crimea is not yours.

Disproof

A mix of recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives claiming that the current Ukrainian government came to power as a result of a coup, that Ukraine is abandoned, and that there is a civil war in Donbas.

There was no coup d’état in Ukraine in 2014; this is a longstanding pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine's Euromaidan protests.

The spontaneous onset of the Euromaidan protests was a reaction from several segments of the Ukrainian population to former President Yanukovych’s sudden departure from the promised Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013, after pressure from Russia.

The current Ukrainian government is recognised by all countries of the world, including Russia.

The US and NATO did not abandon Ukraine. The US continues to support Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty, as was mentioned by President Biden recently. At the latest summit, NATO leaders also declared that Ukraine will "become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process".

Concerning Crimea, the international community did not recognise its illegal occupation by Russia. The UN General Assembly's resolution 68/262 states clearly that Crimea is a part of Ukraine. The European Union has extended sanctions over the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation until 23 June 2022.

The war in Ukraine is not a civil conflict but a well-documented act of aggression by Russian armed forces, ongoing since February 2014.

There is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in 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."

See similar disinformation cases alleging that Ukraine is abandoned and that the Ukrainian government is illegal: Joe Biden will hand Ukraine over to Russia; Ukraine is not welcome in neither Europe nor Russia; the far-right coup government in Kyiv emerged from the 2014 Maidan uprising; Euromaidan was an armed coup.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 249
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18/06/2021
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Ukrainian statehood, War in Ukraine, Coup, Euromaidan, Abandoned Ukraine
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Disinfo: The recent Polish diplomatic misfortunes is a sign of the return of the “Concert of Powers”

Poland is accused by the leading American politicians such as Barack Obama of being an undemocratic country. The USA makes strategic decisions such as the Nord Stream 2 sanctions over the head of Poland. We know well that the German sanctions imposed on Russia are being evaded – their trade is booming in such strategic spheres as energy. The Polish President Andrzej Duda did not have official meetings at the recent NATO’s summit what was a big blow to Polish diplomacy. The Polish Foreign Minister found out about the withdrawal of the Nord Stream 2 sanctions from the media…

All these developments confirm the process of return of the “concert of powers” concept and the division of the regional spheres of influence.

Disproof

This message presents the idea that the United States and Russia decided to “divide” the world into their “spheres of influence” as it was during the Cold War. It also promotes the idea that the USA and Russia will decide the “fate” of smaller countries by themselves (as it was assumed by the concept of the “Concert of Powers” in the XIX century).

For years, the Kremlin has tried to convince the USA to return to the Cold War practice of division of the regional spheres of influence (calling it a “big deal”), but this demand is rejected by the USA and EU. According to US State Secretary Blinken, the concept of having spheres of influence should have disappeared after WWII – the USA does not recognise such a concept and the Russian claims for “control” over post-Soviet countries.

Disinfo: Poland is becoming an American junior partner on the absolute margin of the US foreign policy

It is a very sad conclusion, but Washington strongly marginalises Poland. Despite the feeling that Poland is a strategic partner for the United States, today, it is becoming a junior partner on the absolute margin of the US foreign policy.

Disproof

A common pro-Kremlin narrative promoting the idea that Poland is a country without any real international importance or political significance. Poland is often presented as an American “puppet-state”, which does not represent any importance for the USA.

The US authorities have repeatedly stated that they perceive Poland as its ally in Central Europe and one of the strongest US Continental partners. The US and Poland implement such strategically important projects as the increase of the US military presence in NATO’s Eastern Flank, modernisation of the Polish Army, diversification of Polish gas supplies, etc.

Disinfo: Russiagate was baseless and its sole mission was to topple Trump

Opposition groups of the American elite were ready to destroy the entire planet in order to gain power in Washington. Quite simply, the Democratic Party sacrificed relations with Russia, and the strategic stability of the world, as part of a false and baseless campaign whose sole mission was to topple Donald Trump.

Disproof

This is a recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about an alleged plot against former US president Donald Trump by undemocratic powers, articulated through claiming that Russiagate was a hoax designed to topple Trump.

There were plenty of reasons for US authorities to open an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US elections, as Volume 5 of the Intelligence Committee of the US Senate on Russian Interference in the 2016 election (released in August 2020) shows, which highlights many elements that were not covered by the previous Mueller Report.