DISINFO: The West encouraged Kyiv not to implement the Minsk agreements
SUMMARY
The West has used Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy against Russia by encouraging him to disregard the implementation of the Minsk agreements on the settlement of the Ukraine conflict. Zelenskyy's words cannot be taken seriously, because the Ukrainian leader keeps changing his position. It cannot be tolerated that Western countries think they can do anything because no one protested against the brutal bombing of targets in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, and now they are encouraging the Kyiv government to be Russophobic.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, actively trying to legitimise Russia’s military actions. This narrative is claiming that the West and Ukraine are responsible for the war, because Kyiv did not implement the Minsk agreements.
Before the invasion, Russia was a party to the Minsk agreements, and these are the most recent formal documents in which Russia has affirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia has however not delivered on its side of the implementation of the Minsk agreements. The Russian side and its proxies have failed to implement a ceasefire, withdraw all heavy weapons, implement all-for-all political prisoner exchange, or ensure delivery of humanitarian assistance based on an international mechanism. On the contrary, Russia has been strengthening the illegal armed formations in eastern Ukraine. Russia also did not allow for unfettered access to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission monitors, including to the Ukraine-Russia border, where the (very limited) monitoring mission was discontinued due to a Russian veto in summer 2021.
Without the full implementation of the ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons as well as permission for the full access to all territories for the OSCE monitoring mission, it is difficult to discuss the implementation of the political parts of Minsk II. Nevertheless, Ukraine implemented as much of the Minsk agreements as can reasonably be done while not having control over the territory and addressed every point. It has passed – and extended with renewals – legislation on special status and amnesty (2014), and prepared draft legislation on local elections (2014). Ukraine passed constitutional amendments to provide more autonomy to the territories currently outside its control (2015).
The US and EU did not aim to escalate relations with Russia and were not preparing for military conflict. Western nations have always been calling for solving all problems with Russia in a peaceful and diplomatic manner. Moscow’s overall aggressive policy has led to a tougher and better-balanced policy towards it by the West.
By making statements alleging that Ukraine has done nothing to implement the Minsk agreements, Moscow and the separatists it backs are legitimising the invasion of the country and trying to deflect attention away from this responsibility.
Read more disinformation reports alleging that Ukraine is blocking the peace settlement in Donbas.