DISINFO: European politicians are to blame for what happened in Ukraine in 2014
SUMMARY
Many European politicians took a direct part in the Maidan events, supporting the protesters who attacked the security forces on Maidan. It also shows the weakness of then-president of Ukraine, Yanukovych, who, in principle, allowed Ukrainian Air Force to accompany American bombers in Crimea. These are the consequences of that weak-willed, spineless policy of Yanukovych as well. But Yanukovych is not the only one to blame. European politicians who signed the agreement with Yanukovych are also to blame.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative depicting the 2013-14 protests in Kyiv as a coup d’état orchestrated by the West. There was no coup d’état in Ukraine. The onset of the Euromaidan protests was a spontaneous and endogenous reaction by numerous segments of the Ukrainian population to former President Yanukovych’s sudden withdrawal from the promised Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013. European leaders were among those trying to negotiate a peaceful settlement before Yanukovich fled the country. The protesters’ demands included constitutional reform, a stronger role for parliament, the formation of a government of national unity, an end to corruption, early presidential elections and an end to violence. See previous disinformation narratives alleging that 2014 Ukraine coup was orchestrated by neo-Nazis, Euromaidan was a coup supported by the US and that the list of those killed on the Maidan has a very weak connection with reality. In the same programme, presenters discussed how European politicians didn't react to protests in the USA the same way they did to Euromaidan.