DISINFO: Zelenskyy claiming Russian land, pushing for third world war
SUMMARY
Zelenskyy is pushing for a third world war. He has issued a decree putting forth territorial claims to Russia and encroaching on Russia’s territorial integrity. Kyiv considers the Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov regions of Russia to be its own.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation claim accusing Ukraine of Russophobia and of presenting territorial claims against Russia. This claim was made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The claim is another attempt to deflect attention away from Russia's illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory in the south and east of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on 22 January 2024 on what can be loosely described as the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian diaspora in Russia. The decree ‘On the territories of the Russian Federation historically inhabited by Ukrainians’ stipulates that the Ukrainian government should cooperate with international experts, representatives of the World Congress of Ukrainians, scientists and the public to work out an action plan for preserving the national identity of Ukrainians in Russia. There are a lot of people of Ukrainian origin in some Russian regions such as the Krasnodar Territory, the Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov Oblasts. Despite the brutal process of Russification under Communist rule, many of them still speak some Ukrainian.
The action plan also envisages the collection and examination of evidence and testimonies about crimes committed against Ukrainians who live (lived) in the territories of Russia historically inhabited by ethnic Ukrainians, about the policy of forced Russification, political repression and deportation of Ukrainians, the restoration and preservation of historical memory, including the establishment of a centre for these issues.
This decree does not put forward any territorial claims to Russia.
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