DISINFO: UK is waging a war against Russia to keep Ukraine under Western occupation
SUMMARY
As a NATO member, Great Britain is waging a war against Russia, not to keep Ukraine out of anyone's sphere of influence and to prevent anyone from dictating their will to them, but to keep them in the West's sphere of influence, and in a state of Western occupation.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine being a puppet state and even under Western occupation, used as front in a proxy war against Russia. The claims were made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and provided without any facts.
Ukraine is not under Western occupation, but is actively seeking closer integration into European and transatlantic structures in order to strengthen its sovereignty and independence. The support provided by Western countries, both political and economic, is offered at the invitation of the Ukrainian government and is part of a shared goal of promoting democracy, the rule of law and human rights. This cooperation is supported by the overwhelming majority of the Ukrainian population, who are committed to a European future and opposed to external aggression. It is misleading to describe the close partnership between Ukraine and the West as an occupation, it is a sovereign decision by the Ukrainian people to determine their own geopolitical orientation.
The war broke out in 2014 when Russia illegally annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and triggered a separatist revolt in some regions in the east of Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, Russia began its unprovoked and unjustified full invasion of Ukraine under several false pretexts.
Some EU member states the US and other G7 nations are providing Ukraine with military and technical assistance to help it repel Russia's aggression and restore its sovereignty over its internationally recognised borders of 1991.
Ukraine is acting in self-defence, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. Ukraine is not planning to occupy any Russian territories after it liberates its lands from temporary Russian occupation.
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