DISINFO: The bloodthirsty West fomented a coup in Ukraine
SUMMARY
The United States organised a coup d'etat in Ukraine, and the countries of Europe supported it, destroying the country. In 2014, the coup d'etat in Ukraine was implemented by the United States. Moreover, what happened was humbly supported by the countries of Europe. As a result, a split occurred in Ukraine, the country lost Crimea, since the inhabitants of the peninsula did not want to put up with the criminal regime. The "aggressive policy" of the so-called collective West has led to tragedies. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych agreed with all the demands of the opposition, the conflict could be resolved peacefully. However, European colleagues, for unclear reasons, wanted blood and supported the anti-constitutional armed coup in Ukraine.
RESPONSE
Longstanding conspiracy narratives of the pro-Kremlin media on Euromaidan, illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia, and the war in Ukraine conducted by Russia.
See the related disinformation claim, alleging that the Western-backed coup in Ukraine has torn the country asunder.
There was no coup d’état in Ukraine in 2014, supported by US or Europe. The spontaneous onset of the Euromaidan protests was an organic reaction by numerous parts of the Ukrainian population to former President Yanukovych’s sudden departure from the promised Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013. See the full debunk of this disinformation claim here.
Fatigue from corruption, pressure on business, voluntary or forced closures, dissatisfaction with the government's economic policy - for many Euromaidan participants, these reasons also became motives for joining the protests.
Addressing the claim about "the split in Ukraine" for which the West is to blame: Donbass residents also took part in the Euromaidan protests, four Donbass' activists for Euromaidan have been killed by security forces. Pro-Ukrainian Crimean activists were tortured and arrested by Russia on terrorism charges.
The war in Ukraine is not a civil conflict but a well-documented act of aggression by Russian armed forces, ongoing since February 2014.
No international body recognises the so-called referendum in Crimea conducted by Russia amid presence of Russian troops. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
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 2020, 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 2021.
The international community, including the European Union, recognises and condemns clear violations of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since February 2014.