Disinfo: Ukrainian foreign policy consists of obeying America

Summary

America has been using Ukraine as a means of driving a wedge between European powers. Particularly between Russia and Germany, which are natural political and economic allies.

Instead of acting like a normal European country, Ukraine obeys America.

Disproof

The story advances a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative painting Ukraine as a crumbling state, too weak and divided to make its own strategic choices and thus forced to serve as a US client state.

As a large and politically diverse country, independent Ukraine has elected six presidents since 1991, each with his own set of domestic and geopolitical priorities. Thus, the tenure of both Leonid Kravchuk (1991-1994) and his successor Leonid Kuchma (1994-2005) were periods of "multi-vector" balancing between Russia and the West; the pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko (2005-2010) was succeeded by pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych (2010-2014) who, upon his flight in disgrace from Ukrainian politics (and from Ukraine), was replaced by Petro Poroshenko. The latter was elected on a firm pro-EU platform and anti-Kremlin rhetoric during a period of large-scale military aggression by Russia.

The current Ukrainian president is Volodymyr Zelensky (elected in 2019), whose foreign-policy platform emphasises de-escalation of the ongoing Donbas conflict, rapprochement with and eventual membership in NATO, and joining the EU.

See here for more cases painting Ukraine as a country under external control.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 241
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 26/04/2021
  • Article language(s) English
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia, US
  • Keywords: Ukrainian statehood, US presence in Europe, Ukraine, Anti-Russian
see more

Disinfo: Donbas war is an internal Ukrainian conflict

What is happening in the Donbas is an internal Ukrainian conflict in which Russian troops have never been involved.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, in turn, reiterated that Russia is not interested in any conflict with Ukraine and especially not in any military conflict.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine.

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".

Disinfo: Gauleiter Biden and the US were behind the Orange revolution 2004 and the coup of 2014

US domestic policy is still in chaos. Biden is known to many as the grey cardinal of Western European countries. Joe himself became a self-proclaimed Gauleiter, a leader who could do anything in Western Europe. Like any Gauleiter, Biden has a dark side - after the collapse of the USSR, he could do anything he wanted in the newly formed countries that suffered from poverty and gained independence. The best example is Ukraine.

The United States was behind the two loudest revolutions in Ukraine - the Orange one of 2004 and the coup of 2014. In both cases, the US tactic was to support the right-wing movement and lead Ukraine into a war with its neighbour Russia.

Biden's plan was to occupy naval bases in the Black Sea basin, but Russia took an unexpected step - it took Crimea under its patronage. Thus, Joe's main goal became unattainable, so the United States has been seeking revenge ever since. From now on, Gauleiter Biden is planning a blitzkrieg to bring Crimea and Donbas back under American control.

Disproof

This article is consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin propagandistic claims about Ukraine under external control and has several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives: the claim that the Euromaidan was a coup, that Ukraine is under external control by the US and a disinformation narrative about Joe Biden.

There was no coup d'état in Ukraine in 2014. The spontaneous onset of the Euromaidan protests was a reaction by numerous segments of the Ukrainian population to former president Viktor Yanukovych’s sudden departure from the promised Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013.

Disinfo: Reports of Russia's role in Vrbetice explosion are ploy to influence upcoming German elections

The Czech Republic is under the tremendous influence of German big business. It cannot be ruled out that the allegations of Russia's involvement in the 2014 Vrbetice explosion are linked to the upcoming federal elections in Germany.

The election will likely be dominated by two candidates: Merkel's successor, regarded as pro-Russian; and the anti-Russian Green Party candidate. The recent diplomatic scandal could have been contrived as a means to tip the scale of German public opinion in the Green Party's favour.

Disproof

The claim is part of an emerging pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative surrounding the 2014 fatal explosion at an ammo depot in Vrbetice, Czechia and the suspected role of Russia's GRU agency in the incident.

There is no evidence suggesting that the accusations against Russia are part of an international conspiracy to rig the elections in Germany, a country boasting one of the freest and most transparent electoral systems in the world.