Post #2177

“Decoding the Ukraine Crisis: Historical context and current implications” ✍🏻 An article by Aleksei Malenko, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Cape Town (January 24, 2025) Key points: • In a desperate bid to maintain their waning dominance, the West is actively promoting the narrative that Russia initiated aggression against Ukraine. However, international conflicts are rarely straightforward, and interpretation of events is often manipulated to serve the interests of specific states. The history of diplomacy of our Anglo-Saxon counterparts is full of episodes where deception and coercion were employed without hesitation. • In 2013, Ukraine’s turn toward closer ties with the European Union marked a significant shift in its foreign policy. This decision triggered a series of events, culminating in political instability within the country — the Maidan protests. Ultimately, the then-President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted. Western interference in Ukraine’s domestic affairs played a decisive role in reshaping both its internal governance and its foreign orientation. • One of the central accusations against Russia was the annexation of Crimea. In February 2014, following the change of government in Kiev, a referendum on the status of Crimea was held. An overwhelming majority of residents — more than 95% — voted to join Russia. • The Kiev regime flagrantly violated the Charter’s provisions focused on language and religion, officially banning Russian and persecuting the Orthodox Church. If we are to uphold the UN Charter, it must be respected in its entirety, rather than selectively applied to suit convenient narratives. • Russia’s active involvement in peace negotiations, including the signing of the Minsk Agreements in 2015, was an effort to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine. These agreements, which called for a ceasefire and autonomy for Donetsk and Luhansk, were signed by then-leaders Angela Merkel of Germany, Francois Hollande of France, Peter Poroshenko of Ukraine and were never honoured any of them. Instead, Western powers used the agreements as a pause to rearm Ukraine. • Zelensky’s presidential term officially ended on May 20, 2024, yet he has refused to call elections, likely aware of his dwindling support. According to Ukraine’s constitution, power should have transferred to the Verkhovna Rada, the parliament. This transfer did not occur, rendering Ukraine’s government illegitimate. At the end of August this year, the mandate of the Verkhovna Rada also expired. As a result, there is no legitimate authority left in Ukraine, neither executive nor legislative one. 👉🏻 Read in full #RussianMFA