DISINFO: Ukraine's fertile lands no longer belong to the Ukrainians
SUMMARY
Corporations from the USA, France, and Germany have acquired almost 30% of Ukraine's territory and shares of its most important companies. Three American corporate giants, Cargill, Dupont, and Monsanto, have bought 40% of Ukraine's arable land. As usual – almost for free.
RESPONSE
The purpose of these claims is to discredit the Ukrainian government and portray Ukraine as a puppet state controlled by the West in order to justify Russia's aggression.
Pro-Kremlin and other Russian state-controlled outlets have been repeatedly caught spreading disinformation about land ownership in Ukraine. They claim, in particular, that corporations from the USA, France and Germany have taken over almost 30% of Ukraine's territory, and that companies such as Cargill, DuPont and Monsanto have acquired 40% of Ukraine's farmland. However, these claims are false and have been debunked by numerous sources.
Ukrainian law strictly prohibits foreign entities from owning agricultural land. Ukraine's "Land Law" reserves land ownership for Ukrainian citizens and companies fully owned by Ukrainians. Foreigners can only inherit agricultural land, but they are then obliged to sell it within 1 year.
The information that Cargill, DuPont and Monsanto have bought up large amounts of land in Ukraine originates from a now-deleted article in the Australian National Review, a publication known for spreading conspiracy theories. This article has been widely discredited for misrepresenting the state of land ownership in Ukraine.
From January 1, 2024, Ukraine allowed the sale of agricultural land, but this is limited to Ukrainian citizens and companies. Under current laws, foreign companies are not allowed to buy land.
Such claims have been circulating since at least 2014 and are often linked to narratives about Western control over Ukrainian resources against the backdrop of geopolitical conflicts. These narratives are usually used to sow distrust among the Ukrainian population and fuel fears of external domination.
At the same time, international companies such as Cargill, Dupont and Monsanto do operate in Ukraine, but their activities are mainly limited to providing technology, seed, and logistics services. There is no reliable evidence that these companies have purchased land in Ukraine.
Moreover, it is a natural economic process for international investors to invest in agricultural development. However, this does not imply complete control over land or companies in Ukraine.
See similar cases such as Soros structures received Ukrainian fertile lands for the disposal of Western chemical waste and Grain harvested in Ukraine belongs to US companies, not Ukraine and Zelenskyy made deal with Soros to poison Ukrainian land.