DISINFO: Ukraine provoked a crisis in Donbas ahead of NATO summit
SUMMARY
Ukraine provoked a crisis in Donbas ahead of the NATO summit in Brussels. Some European countries are interested in escalation with Russia.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media outlets, claiming that the recent escalation in Eastern Ukraine was triggered by Kyiv’s alleged war preparations in the vicinity of the separatist-held territories in Donbas. In reality, the crisis in Donbas was caused by Russia’s massive military build-up along Ukraine’s eastern and southern borders earlier this year. Kyiv’s preparations came in response to Russia’s military activities in the region, which was confirmed by daily reports from the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Kyiv has repeatedly stated that it seeks a peaceful solution in Donbas and that the Minsk agreements are the only option to end the war there. However, Russia has been systematically accusing Ukraine of breaking these accords, and constantly violating them itself. Russia later withdrew part of its troops from near the border but left much of the equipment intact.
Western nations do not seek escalation with Russia. Since the conflict flared up in Donbas in 2014, the West has been trying to find a peaceful solution, rather than attempting to deteriorate relations with Russia. The OSCE is an active contributor to these efforts, and the Normandy format was formed in 2014 to help find a settlement in Donbas.
Russia used alleged Ukrainian military activities in Donbas as a pretext for massive passportisation among Donbas residents. Moscow said it would be forced to intervene and defend its citizens if the Ukrainian Armed Forces attack Donbas separatists. Russia started passportisation in the occupied territories of Ukrainian Donbas in 2019. The Kremlin is apparently striving to repeat the Crimea scenario when bearers of Russian passports were claimed victims of aggression, and Russia illegally annexed the Ukrainian peninsula in 2014. The claim, however, was never documented by Russian authorities or human rights organisations.
NATO leaders who gathered in Brussels on 14 June 2021 issued a communiqué, which said among other things:
“We reiterate the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process.”
US President Joe Biden said about Ukraine’s potential membership of the Alliance that the Russian occupation of Crimea would not be an impediment. However, he added that Kyiv had to “clean up corruption” before that.
Read more disifno cases about alleged Ukrainian provocations in Donbas.