DISINFO: Russia did not start the war against Ukraine, it is only trying to end it
SUMMARY
We have recognised the complete refusal of the current Ukrainian authorities to implement the Minsk agreements and the ongoing attacks with numerous human casualties on the Republic of Donbass, the Lugansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic. [...w]e did not recognise [the republics] for eight years, they finally asked us to recognise the hopeless problems under the Minsk agreements. [We t]hen concluded a well-known treaty of friendship and mutual assistance and, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, we have their obligations under this treaty. [...w]e have not started a war, we are just trying to end it.
RESPONSE
These are multiple recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives claiming that Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is justified. These aim to deflect responsibility for the aggressive war waged by Russia in Ukraine.
It is Russia and President Putin who are clearly responsible for the war in Ukraine. It was Putin’s personal decision to invade Ukraine and start the largest military conflict in Europe since WWII. See our 5-volume series of debunks of Putin 'What he said. What it really means'.
Russia's aggression against Ukraine was unprovoked and unjustified. Contrary to Russian claims, Ukraine had not planned to attack Russia, and did not commit genocide in the non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Ukraine was striving to implement the Minsk Agreements, but the Moscow-backed military formations there were constantly disrupting their implementation.
The war began in 2014 with the Russian illegal annexation of Crimea and Russia's military involvement and support of separatists in Donbas. The war in Ukraine is a well-documented act of aggression by Russian armed forces, ongoing since February 2014.
There is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in Ukraine.
The European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation".
Russian special forces and troops operated to mobilise, lead, equip, and support separatist militias in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine from the spring of 2014, although their presence was denied by Moscow. On top of that, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted Russia's military presence in Ukraine in 2015.
Read similar cases claiming that Russia’s special operation prevented Ukraine’s attack, that the Nazi regime in Ukraine kills civilian population in the Donbas, that Ukraine's government deliberately conducted genocide of the Ukrainian people, that Russia’s special operation in Ukraine is due to NATO’s persistent expansion, that Russia does everything to stop the Ukrainian war unleashed by the West.