DISINFO: Euromaidan was an uprising supported by the West
SUMMARY
The conflict in the region began after the events of Maidan in 2014, when violent Western-backed street protests overthrew the democratically elected government. This eventually led to two self-proclaimed republics, the DNR and the LNR, declaring independence - a move that was not recognised by Russia, Ukraine or any UN state.
RESPONSE
Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the role of the US and the West in the 2014 Euromaidan in Ukraine.
In 2014, there was no coup, nor a Western orchestrated protest in Ukraine. The demonstrations which began in Kyiv in November 2013 – called "Maidan", or "Euromaidan" – were a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with the former President Yanukovych. After seven years of negotiation, he refused to sign the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and halted progress towards Ukraine's closer relationship with the EU due to Russian pressure.
The protesters' demands included constitutional reform, a stronger role for parliament, the formation of a government of national unity, an end to corruption, early presidential elections and an end to violence.
The EU is among the strongest advocates of Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. The EU and the US work closely with Ukraine and support the democratic development of Ukraine in accordance with the UN Charter’s principles of non-interference into internal affairs and respect towards territorial integrity and political independence.
See our article Disinformation About the Current Russia-Ukraine Conflict – Seven Myths Debunked. In addition, see similar disinformation cases claiming that Euromaidan protests were organised by foreign governments: the US and the EU conspired to overthrow the legitimately elected President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, Obama staged a coup in Ukraine.