DISINFO: Kyiv and the West are responsible for escalation in Donbas
SUMMARY
Kyiv and its supporters in the West are responsible for the escalation in Ukraine. The United States is transforming Ukraine into a powder keg by sending weapons instead of helping enforce the Minsk agreements.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about war in Ukraine.
Ukraine is not preparing military provocations in Donbas. The Ukrainian government has repeatedly stated that it is not interested in escalation and that it prefers a peaceful solution. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Minsk agreements are the only option to end the war in Donbas. At the same time, the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe registers almost daily violations of the truce in Donbas.
Since end of March / early April 2021, Russia started to send troops to the Ukrainian border and increased bellicose language in key Russian state media. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has expressed 'severe concern' over Russian military activity near Ukraine's border. Significant amounts of Russian heavy armament and equipment is maintained in the regions near the Ukrainian border contributing to heightened tension.
See similar disinformation cases alleging that Ukraine must continue war in Donbas, otherwise, it won't receive financial support from the West; Ukraine no longer hides preparations for war against Russia and Donbas; the US provokes Ukraine into war with Russia; that Kyiv’s ready to launch an offensive in Donbas with Biden’s approval, and that Washington orders Zelenskyy to raze Donbas to ground.