DISINFO: Ukraine no longer hides preparations for war against Russia and Donbas
SUMMARY
The fact that preparations for war are underway is an obvious thing. Next year they will allocate almost 6% of Ukraine’s GDP for defence. For comparison: Russia allocates 3%, many NATO countries only 2%. It’s almost $ 5 billion … This is more than enough to continue to rearm the Ukrainian army and make it dangerous enough both for Donbas and for Russia from the point of view of Crimea.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine.
The claim is made without evidence and is only the latest in a string of pro-Kremlin conspiracy theories alleging that the Ukrainian authorities want hostilities with Russia and Donbas.
Ukraine has spent over 5% of GDP annually on the security and defence sector over the past few years. In 2021, Ukraine plans to allocate 5.93% of GDP for the security and defence sector. In 2020, this amount was 5.45% of GDP. Before the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, Kyiv spent about 1% of GDP.
In Donbas, a truce was established in July 2020. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated multiple times that the achievement of a full, comprehensive, and long-lasting ceasefire is one of the key priorities of the Ukrainian government. The official Kyiv also never spoke about plans to attack any country in the world.
See similar disinformation cases on the war in Ukraine alleging that Kyiv might launch a military "adventure" in Donbas, exploiting the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, or that Ukraine is organising provocations in Donbas.