Disinfo: Ukraine broke the Minsk agreements by allowing the National Police on the contact line

Summary

Ukraine knows that it can’t allow the National Police to be on the line of contact [in Donbas]. It violates the agreements. And Ukraine broke the agreement before the Normandy Format meeting.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Minsk agreements, portraying Ukraine as the only violator of the agreements. See previous cases about the Minsk agreements and the war in Ukraine. On 20 September 2016, the Framework Decision of Tripartite Contact Group on the Withdrawal of Forces was signed. The document listed violations such as the movement of forces and means on the contact line, shelling or placing mines on the contact line, etc. However, there is no mention of the use of the National Police for controlling order there. Ukrainian Defence Minister Andrii Zagorodniuk said in October 2019 that the condition of the withdrawal of forces and means is the fulfilment of the condition of observing the ceasefire regime at both sections of the contact line and the verification of the absence of fire should be carried out by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. He also stated that the National Police will protect civilians on the contact line.

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Rossia 24 (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 175
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 29/11/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Ukraine, Eastern Ukraine, Provocation, Minsk agreements, Donbas, War in Ukraine
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Disinfo: The West understands very well that Crimean issue has been finally resolved

Crimea is part of Russia, it will never become either Ukrainian or anything else. The President of Ukraine, and many politicians in the West, understand this very well. People in Western Europe also clearly understand that the Crimean issue has finally been resolved.

Nov 28, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and its progressive recognition in the world. No international body recognises the so-called referendum, announced on 27 February 2014, and held on 16 March 2014 amid the presence of Russian troops. On the date of its announcement, the 27th of March 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea. The European Union does not recognise and continues to strongly condemn this violation of international law, which remains a challenge to the international security order. This position is based on the UN Charter, which clearly states that the territory of a State cannot be acquired by another State resulting from the threat or use of force, as well as on the Helsinki Final Act in which the signatories declared their intention to respect the inviolability of frontiers and territorial integrity. In response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and deliberate destabilisation of a neighbouring sovereign country, the EU has imposed restrictive measures against the Russian Federation. On the 5th anniversary of Crimea's annexation, the EU reiterated its position of non-recognition of illegal annexation and declared that it continues to stand in full solidarity with Ukraine, supporting its sovereignty and territorial integrity. See similar cases claiming that Crimea issue is closed and Trump and his colleagues do not argue with the referendum’s results.

Disinfo: Europe is engulfed by sanctions against Russia

Major European countries are overwhelmed by sanctions against Russia […]. Nearly half of the losses caused by sanctions against Russia are incurred by Western countries.

Nov 28, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that Western sanctions against Russia are ineffective and/or meaningless.

In fact, the sanctions from the US and the EU do not aim to punish Russia or the Russian people but were introduced to send a clear signal to the Russian government after Russia's illegal annexation of the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula and the downing of the Malaysian passenger plane MH17.

Disinfo: Ukraine buys expensive gas from Europe just to spite Russia

Ukraine wants cheap gas but will buy it at high prices from Europe just to spite [Russia]. To pay 2 or 3 times more, doesn’t matter.

Nov 28, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the gas supply negotiations between Ukraine and Russia In November 2015, Kyiv refused to purchase gas for the state’s needs from the Russian monopolist Gazprom. At the moment, all the gas used by Ukraine is acquired exclusively on its western borders. In the summer of this year, Naftogaz of Ukraine reported that at the moment Ukraine is buying gas at an open auction in the EU, at almost half the price that Russia offers. For example, in July, Ukraine bought gas for the needs of the population at $178 per 1000 cubic meters, while Russia's Gazprom offered Kyiv a price of $315. Moreover, the Ukrainian company Naftogaz previously won a court case with Gazprom for gas supplies for state needs. Naftogaz estimates the overall positive effect of the arbitration award at more than tens of billion USD over the entire duration of the contract for gas supplies to Ukraine.