DISINFO: Ukraine has a solution to recognising Crimea, DNR, and LNR
SUMMARY
Ukraine has a possible solution to the issue of recognising the territories of Crimea and the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DNR and LNR), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told ABC on Tuesday. “This is another ultimatum and we are not prepared for ultimatums. But we have the possible solution for these [..] key items,” Zelenskyy said, responding to a question of whether Kiev continues to reject Moscow’s demands - recognition of Crimea, the DPR and the LPR, as well as Ukraine’s refusal to join NATO.
RESPONSE
This is a disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin narratives alleging that Ukraine is ready to recognise Crimea as a part of Russia and to acknowledge the two non-government-controlled regions in Eastern Ukraine as independent states.
In reality, this quotation is incorrect. The correct quotation in President Zelenskyy’s interview for ABC is as follows: “This is another ultimatum and we are not prepared for ultimatums. What needs to be done is for President Putin to start talking, start the dialogue instead of living in the informational bubble without oxygen,” President Zelenskyy said in the context of the current Ukrainian-Russian talks.
Putin launched his invasion and war, what he called a special military operation, against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Putin cited NATO’s military infrastructure approaching the Russian border as a pretext. The invasion was followed by airstrikes on military objects and Russian troops later started bombing and shelling civilian targets as well. According to official Russian statements, this action was taken to denazify and demilitarise Ukraine.
See our guide to deciphering pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's war.