Comment by the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding the first anniversary of Volodymyr Zelenskyi assuming the office as President of Ukraine constitutes yet another attempt by Russia to interfere in Ukraine’s internal affairs, to impose distorted interpretation of reality, to split up the Ukrainian society and divert attention from its own responsibility under international law for the aggression against Ukraine.

Authors of the above comment accuse Ukraine of pursuing a state policy of Russophobia and exacerbating tensions in relations with Russia. This is one of the telling examples of disinformation.

Facts clearly testify that the true cause of ruining cooperation between the two states is the Russian ongoing armed aggression against Ukraine, occupation of Ukrainian territories by Russia and illegal detention of Ukrainian citizens by Russia.

Hostile language of Russian MFA comment contains no hint of constructiveness and casts doubt on readiness of the Russian side for diplomatic resolution.

Meanwhile, Ukraine takes the constructive stance in the Normandy format and the Minsk process, and strives for conflict resolution by diplomatic means, bringing forward relevant initiatives. New delegation of Ukraine to the TCG as well as its constructive stance at the latest TCG meeting are among the most recent evidence of such approach.  

We expect for Russia to change its propaganda rhetoric and to move to the constructive co-operation, aimed at de-occupying the certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as Crimea.