DISINFO: Ukraine destroyed the Minsk agreements
SUMMARY
Ukraine has done everything to sabotage and destroy the Minsk agreements. Kyiv diligently ignored the Minsk agreements.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative aimed at shifting the responsibility from Russia to Ukraine for not fulfilling the agreements, claiming that Ukraine is not willing to implement the Minsk and Normandy agreements, and Ukraine's position is the only obstacle on the way to the peace process in Donbas.
This narrative is part of the support campaign of Russian aggression against Ukraine, which started on 24 February 2022. Leaders of the European Union recognized that Moscow's actions should be evaluated as “acts of violence and the violation of international law”. By shifting the blame on Ukraine, this disinformation story aims to deny any Russian responsibility for the situation.
Contrary to the claims, the main impediment to a peace settlement in Donbas is, in fact, Russia and its proxies’ deliberate unwillingness to implement the Minsk agreements. Moreover, Moscow illegally provides weapons to the separatists. This is a well-known fact, although Russia denies it and accuses the US of selling weapons to Kyiv. Ukraine, on the other hand, does not conceal the military aid it receives because it is legal and transparent.
Recently, Russia has completely violated the Minsk agreements by recognising the "independence" of the so-called DPR and LPR. The world leaders, the EU, the UN, and other key international organisations condemned this decision as a gross violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The EU High Representative Josep Borrell strongly condemned Russia's decision as an illegal act: "With the decision to recognise the non-government controlled region of eastern Ukraine as “independent states”, Russia is clearly violating the Minsk agreements, which stipulate the full return of these areas to the control of the Ukrainian government. [It] is a severe breach of international law and international agreements, including the UN Charter, Helsinki Final Act, Paris Charter, and Budapest Memorandum."
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterress defined the decision to recognise the so-called “independence” of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as a "direct violation of the Charter of the UN." He also said that "It is a death blow to the Minsk Agreements endorsed by the Security Council."
By making statements alleging that Ukraine has done nothing to implement the Minsk agreements, Moscow and the separatists it backs are delaying a peace settlement and are trying to deflect attention away from this responsibility.
Read more disinformation reports alleging that Ukraine is blocking the peace settlement in Donbas. See also our recent article about 7 frequent myths of Russian disinformation regarding Ukraine and the conflict.