Disinfo: US is preparing Ukraine for war in Donbas, sending to it weapons every day

Summary

The United States is preparing Ukraine for war in Donbas by providing it with weapons every day.

The US airlift to Ukraine operates around the clock now. So, if something happens, the volume of supplies can grow exponentially. The White House is simply pushing the Ukrainians into this war.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media outlets, claiming that the West is pushing Ukraine into a war in its eastern region of Donbas. In reality, Ukraine is taking precautionary measures against Russian military build-up near the Ukrainian border, and its troops will open fire only if there is a threat to them on the ground or if they are attacked, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

Ukraine’s top military commander, General Ruslan Khmomchak, has said Russia had amassed 28 battalions near the borders. Сontrary to Russian propagandist media reports, Kyiv is only bracing itself for possible provocations from the Moscow-backed separatists or direct Russian invasion. Reports issued daily by the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe are indicating a surge in hostilities over the past several days.

The West has supported Ukraine, demanding that Russia put an end to its military build-up close to the Ukrainian borders. In a telephone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 2 April, his US counterpart Joe Biden “affirmed the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression in the Donbas and Crimea." This does not mean that Washington is preparing Kyiv for war or ordering it to launch an offensive.

The fact that Ukraine is receiving military aid from the US is not a violation of the 2014 Minsk Agreements. The US does not conceal the fact that it supplies Ukraine with defensive military equipment because it is all done openly and in accordance with bilateral agreements. Russia, in its turn, refutes accusations that it sends armaments to its proxies in Donbas. However, there is plenty of evidence of it and of Russia’s direct involvement in the war on the side of the anti-Ukrainian separatists (read here and here).

Read more disinformation stories about Ukraine’s alleged preparations for an offensive in Donbas.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 239
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 07/04/2021
  • Article language(s) Arabic, Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia, US
  • Keywords: War in Ukraine, Ukrainian statehood, Donbas, Eastern Ukraine, Minsk agreements
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Disinfo: The UN opposes sanctions, which are illegal and aren’t part of international law

The policy of sanctions is now an everyday occurrence, despite the stance of the UN against this kind of tools, which are illegal. They are against the international law, but Washington, Brussels, London and others don’t seem to care.

Disproof

The claim is false.

Chapter VII of the UN Charter establishes the legal basis for the imposition of coercive measures through the United Nations, including sanctions.

Disinfo: In 2020 Italy called for help with the pandemic and only non EU countries helped

In March 2020, Italy, the first European country to be affected, called for help in the face of the pandemic.

There was no answer and finally it was non-EU member countries which brought them help. This is the sign of a lack of solidarity between the states of the EU. Fortunately Ursula von der Leyen ended up apologising on behalf of the Union. During the first months of the pandemic it was a bit of every man for himself.

Disproof

Recurrent disinformation narrative about the lack of solidarity from the EU and its members to Italy at the beginning of the pandemic contrasting with alleged help from non-EU members.

The narrative has been repeatedly debunked. The European Commission took multiple initiatives to help Italy and other member states deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, including support to the economy.

Disinfo: A 4-year-old child died in Donbas after Ukrainian army drone attack

According to reports, a child was killed after a Ukrainian army drone attacked a civilian settlement.

Disproof

Reports by pro-Kremlin media about a boy allegedly killed by a drone attack by the Ukrainian army on April 3, 2021 cannot be considered true. Rather, the cause of death appears to be an accident with explosives/old ammunition and not by a drone attack.

RT German and other pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets spread information that a child allegedly died as a result of a Ukrainian drone attack in the NGCA [Non-Government-controlled-area] of Donbas. These reports refer to the “people’s police” of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic”, which made a similar statement on April 3, 2021.