DISINFO: The accusations about Moscow violating the Budapest Memorandum are anti-Russian propaganda
SUMMARY
Any accusations against Russia regarding the violation of its obligations under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on the security of Ukraine are groundless and represent anti-Russian propaganda.
In fact, when a coup d'etat took place in Ukraine, the entry of Crimea and Sevastopol into Russia became the only possible way for the population of the region to protect their interests.
Crimea became part of Russian region following a referendum in 2014, conducted in full compliance with the UN Charter and international law.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation aimed at justifying Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in February 2014.
The mentioned Budapest Memorandum is a document signed in December 1994 by Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Under the Memorandum, Ukraine agreed to remove all Soviet-era nuclear weapons. In return, the US, the UK and Russia signed the Memorandum with guarantees of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. According to the document, all signatory countries have to respect Ukraine's sovereign rights for its territories.
The 1994 Budapest memorandum stipulates:
"The Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, in accordance with the principles of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, to respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine; The Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America reaffirm their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine, and that none of their weapons will ever be used against Ukraine except in self-defence or otherwise in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations".
In this regard, Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the Kremlin's support towards separatists in eastern Ukraine are a clear violation of the international memorandum.
No international body recognises the so-called referendum, announced on 27 February amid the introduction of Russian troops and held by Russia in Crimea less than three weeks later.
To justify the annexation, Russian pro-Kremlin outlets regularly make allegations about "foreign rule in Ukraine", "Nazi rule in Ukraine" and also deny the well documented Russian involvement in the war in Donbas.
The European Union does not recognise and continues to strongly condemn this violation of international law, which remains a challenge to the international security order. In response to the illegal annexation of Crimea, the EU has imposed restrictive measures against the Russian Federation. In June 2021, the European Council decided to renew the sanctions introduced in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation until 23 June 2022.
See more disinformation cases on Ukraine.