DISINFO: Russia is not mentioned in Minsk Agreements
SUMMARY
Sanctions against Russia were imposed under the pretext of the events in Ukraine. The West says, if Russia wants the EU to lift sanctions, it should fulfill the Minsk agreements. But Russia is not mentioned in the agreement. Russia is the member of Normandy Four, which formed the framework of the Minsk agreement.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on Ukraine and the Minsk agreements. Also consistent with the narrative about the US global role. The narrative claims that Russia is not part of the conflict in Donbas and that Russia has nothing to do with the war in eastern Ukraine. The Minsk agreements (the 2014 memorandum and 2015 plan of action) is the roadmap to the stabilisation of the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk. It is true that both documents do not mention Russia as a side involved in the war, however, the documents do not mention the sides whatsoever. Still, the Minsk agreements do not define the conflict in Ukraine as "internal" but state clearly (paragraph 10) the need to withdraw “all foreign armed formations, military equipment, as well as mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine under the monitoring of the OSCE.” The European Union stated in July 2014 that "arms and fighters continue flowing into Ukraine from the Russian Federation". At the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014, NATO leaders condemned in the strongest terms Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and demanded Russia to stop and withdraw its forces from Ukraine and from the country’s border. NATO leaders also demanded Russia comply with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities; refrain from aggressive actions against Ukraine; halt the flow of weapons, equipment, people and money across the border to the separatists; and stop fomenting tension along and across the Ukrainian border. In 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted Russia's military presence in Ukraine.