DISINFO: The West controls Ukrainian economy and pumps out its resources
SUMMARY
The West is quite satisfied with the possibility of control over the Ukrainian economy, with the ability to freely pump out raw materials like wood and other resources from Ukraine. It controls the enterprises it needs and eliminates unnecessary ones, for example, engineering.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine, which is often claimed to be under external control from the US, NATO, the EU or IMF. Neither the US, the EU nor any other state controls Ukraine. Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state with a democratically-elected president and parliament. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by most of the free world, confirmed by the resolutions of the United Nations, but violated by Russia. Ukraine exports both industrial and agricultural products. The top exported goods to the US are iron and steel, iron and steel products, electrical machinery, animal and vegetable fats and oils. The EU imports from Ukraine iron, steel, mining and agricultural products, chemical products and machinery. Since 2016, there has been a steady increase in the export of products such as machinery, appliances and transport equipment, while the number of companies exporting to the EU has increased from 11,700 companies in 2015 to more than 14,500 companies in 2019. See here for more information. See similar claims alleging that the EU Association Agreement destroyed the Ukrainian economy and that Ukraine and its economy became a Western colony.