DISINFO: Ukraine produces new 'initiatives' while not abiding by Minsk; Germany and France play along
SUMMARY
Ukraine is producing new 'initiatives' regarding the Donbas war to deflect attention away from its failure to abide by the Minsk agreements. Germany and France are playing along.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets, claiming that the blame for the non-implementation of the Minsk agreements falls on Ukraine while also accusing Germany and France of ignoring this fact.
In reality, one of the basic pre-conditions for a peace settlement in Donbas is a ceasefire, which the Moscow-backed separatists have been continually breaking since these agreements were signed. The positions of Germany and France, which are sponsors of the peace process, are in full accord with Ukraine's, where the strict implementation of these agreements is concerned. The European Council said in its conclusions on external relations issued on 24 June 2021:
“The European Council calls on Russia to fully assume its responsibility in ensuring the full implementation of the Minsk agreements as the key condition for any substantial change in the EU’s stance.”
Instead of ordering the separatist “republics” to start implementing the Minsk agreements, Moscow launched a massive passportisation campaign in Donbas in 2019 in an attempt to change the demographic situation in the region. Over 500,000 Russian passports have been issued there so far. Moscow seemingly wants to repeat what happened in Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and in the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, where it sent its troops under the pretext of protecting its citizens. However, neither Ukraine nor the European Union recognises Russian passports issued in Donbas.
The latest round of Normandy-format talks ended without results. Although Russia denies its involvement in Donbas and keeps saying that the separatist and Ukraine are the only parties to it, there is enough well-documented evidence of Russia’s direct involvement.
Read more disinformation cases about Ukraine’s alleged non-commitment to the Minsk agreements.