DISINFO: The EU could end the war in Ukraine with one telephone call
SUMMARY
The EU is in a position to end the war in the Donbas with just one telephone call to Kyiv, to encourage the Ukrainian rulers to engage in dialogue. The tactic that has been adopted by the EU on the Ukrainian issue is as follows: it is more convenient to impose sanctions against Russia than to end the war in Donbas with a call to Kyiv; encouraging Ukrainian leaders to engage in dialogue with the other side of the conflict. The EU addresses Russia out of convenience, and not because Russia is the cause of the problem.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the war in Ukraine. It was not the European Union, but Russia, which provoked military conflict in Ukraine, so the EU cannot end the conflict without Russia's involvement. In March 2015, the European Council linked the duration of EU sanctions to Russia to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements, acknowledging Russia's responsibility to uphold the Agreements. Overwhelming evidence confirms that Russia is sending mercenaries to Donbas. The European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation", and continues to condemn clear violations of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces. Moreover, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted Russia's military presence in Ukraine in 2015. The European Union continues to support independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as the reform process within the country.