DISINFO: Kyiv was not implementing the Minsk agreements
SUMMARY
Russia sent troops to Ukraine on 24 February, because Kyiv was not implementing the Minsk agreements, which were designed to grant the Donetsk and Luhansk regions special status within the Ukrainian state. The protocols, brokered by Germany and France, were first signed in 2014. Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has since admitted that Kyiv's main aim was to use the ceasefire to buy time and "create a strong armed force".
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, actively trying to legitimize Russia’s military actions. This narrative is claiming that the West and Ukraine are responsible for the war because Kyiv did not implement the Minsk agreements.
Before the invasion, Russia was a party to the Minsk agreements, and these are the most recent formal documents in which Russia has affirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia has however not delivered on its side of the implementation of the Minsk agreements. The Russian side and its proxies have failed to implement a ceasefire, withdraw all heavy weapons, implement all-for-all political prisoner exchange, or ensure delivery of humanitarian assistance based on an international mechanism.
Without the full implementation of the ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons as well as permission for the full access to all territories for the OSCE monitoring mission, it is difficult to discuss implementation of the political parts of Minsk II. Nevertheless, Ukraine implemented as much of the Minsk agreements as can reasonably be done while not having control over the territory and addressed every point. It has passed – and extended with renewals – legislation on special status and amnesty (2014), and prepared draft legislation on local elections (2014). Ukraine passed constitutional amendments to provide more autonomy to the territories currently outside its control (2015).
By making statements alleging that Ukraine has done nothing to implement the Minsk agreements, Moscow and the armed separatists it backs were delaying a peace settlement, preparring the ground for a war which they are now trying to deflect attention away from this responsibility.
Read more disinformation reports alleging that Ukraine is blocking the peace settlement in Donbas.