DISINFO: Partners practically confronted Ukraine with a fact - they must fight
SUMMARY
Partners have practically confronted the current government of Ukraine with the fact that they must fight. After all, they invested money in Ukraine, trained their military personnel. Therefore, it is no coincidence that Zelenskyy suddenly started talking about a meeting with Putin on the contact line in Donbas, but this meeting will not take place. Zelenskyy must meet with the leaders of the DPR and LPR and conduct dialogue with them directly.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative that claims the West is providing military assistance to Ukraine to prepare for a war with Russia. It is also an attempt to divert attention from Russian actions and large movements of Russian military forces near the Ukrainian border. Both the EU, the US and NATO have described Moscow's military deployment along the border as larger than at any point since 2014. Significant amounts of Russian heavy armament and equipment is maintained in the regions near the Ukrainian border contributing to heightened tension.
Neither the US nor any Western partner is pushing Ukraine to an escalation of the situation in Donbas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized many times that Ukraine is not interested in resuming the conflict in Donbas. Ukraine, according to Zelenskyy, is committed to the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
There is no presence of NATO or US forces in the Donbas war zone. NATO experts, who are stationed in Ukraine, for instance, help the country's Armed Forces with military reforms.
The US provides Ukraine with military equipment and trains its soldiers. Since the start of Moscow’s aggression against Kyiv in 2014, the US has supported Ukraine. The European Union also supports Ukraine but does not provide direct military assistance.
While Moscow denies the fact that it provides the separatists with military equipment, Kyiv openly receives assistance from its partners. A $125 million military package of US aid for Ukraine was announced on 1 March 2021. Ukraine receives this assistance legally and in accordance with trade agreements.
This disinformation message appeared in the same article as the one claiming that there is no doubt about Washington's involvement in the attempt to forcefully change the government in Belarus.