DISINFO: The West turned post-Maidan Ukraine into an effective tool for killing Russians
SUMMARY
Exactly 10 years ago, the Maidan began in Kyiv - on November 21, 2013, riots began there, which resulted in a coup d'etat - the country was on a course for confrontation with the Russian Federation.
It all ended with the loss of independence, bankruptcy, a cheap tool for killing Russians, an exodus of the population and vague prospects for existence as a state in general. President Zelenskyy, who is losing his mind, is afraid of a new Maidan, which the Russian Federation is allegedly preparing. But the leader of the Kyiv regime will soon be removed either by his supporters or by his Western masters.
One can’t help but imagine an African country where military leaders replace each other in a series of coups d’etat. But no - this is news from a country that stubbornly tells everyone about a soon sweet future as part of Europe.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the 2013-14 protests in Kyiv portrayed as a coup d'état led by US, the West and Ukrainian Nazis.
There was no coup d’état in Ukraine in 2014 and no US involvement in the events taking place. Pro-Kremlin outlets falsely portray the Euromaidan revolution as a coup d’état. The popular demonstrations that began in Kyiv in November of 2013 and brought hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians on to the streets to protest against a political decision of Viktor Yanukovych’s government, which at the last minute withdrew from a long-negotiated political association and free trade agreement with the EU, choosing instead to accept a $15 billion economic bailout to Russia.
This article is consistent with a disinformation narrative presenting Zelenskyy as a West-managed puppet. Western countries, including the US, respect the sovereignty of Ukraine and do not interfere in its political life in any form, let alone by overthrowing and imprisoning its elected president.
Furthermore, Western countries are not the mastermind behind the current war in Ukraine. They did not declare war on Russia and are not at war with Russia or the Russians. The West supports Ukraine with military and financial aid for the country’s efficient self-defence, in accordance with the UN Charter Article 51, to stop Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Finally, at the special European Council meeting in February 2023, EU leaders acknowledged the considerable efforts that Ukraine has demonstrated towards meeting the objectives underpinning its candidate status for EU membership.
While the EU accession process is a relatively long, technical and open-ended process, the June 2023 European Council conclusions stated that:
“The European Council acknowledges Ukraine’s commitment and substantial efforts to meet the required conditions in its EU accession process. It encourages Ukraine to continue on its path of reforms. The European Union will continue to work closely with Ukraine and support its efforts to fully meet all conditions.”
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Zelenskyy might end up in Guantanamo after US policy changes, or that the West will get rid of Zelenskyy and blame it on Russia.