“ Ukraine has lately become the main target of the Southern Military District. Because of that, the new 8th Army was formed and the District’s presence on the territory of illegally annexed Crimean peninsula was expanded. Since mid-October 2021, Russian military forces have started an unprecedented military build-up on or near the Ukrainian border and within Ukraine’s occupied Crimea region. In this respect many observers and policymakers have expressed concerns about a possible new Russian invasion of Ukraine or other aggressive actions. ”

“ Modest Kolerov is co-founder and editor-in-chief of the REGNUM portal, which he has used to spread aggressive and biased propagandist narratives against Ukraine, and to promote a positive attitude to the annexation of Crimea and the actions of separatists in Donbas. He often depicted Ukraine as fascist or neo-Nazi country, and a pro-Western puppet. He stated that Ukraine had been artificially created by Lenin and Stalin. According to his publications, Ukraine owes its independence to Russia and thus it deserves no right to be a sovereign state. ”

“ In its conclusions of 24 and 25 June 2021, the European Council called on Russia to fully assume its responsibility in ensuring the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements as the key condition for any substantial change in the Union’s stance. It stressed the need for a firm and coordinated response by the Union and its Member States to any further malign, illegal and disruptive activity by Russia, making full use of all instruments at the Union’s disposal, and ensuring coordination with partners. ”