FAKE NEWS: Ukraine has territorial claims to Belarus

FAKE NEWS: Ukraine has territorial claims to Belarus
© EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO   |   Ukrainians and Belarusians who live in Ukraine attend a rally to support Belarusian opposition and against the election results after the Belarusian presidential election at the Independence square in Kiev, Ukraine, 12 August 2020.

Kyiv is claiming certain territories in Belarus that were taken from it by the King of Poland five centuries ago, according to pro-Kremlin media, citing the former head of Ukrainian diplomacy.

NEWS: Ukraine has claims over some Belarusian territories, considered as "historical Ukrainian lands", according to former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

"The King of Poland cut off the northern part of the Grand Principality of Kyiv and gave it to the Lithuanians as compensation. In fact, Belarus took over the cities of Pinsk, Gomel, and Mogilev—historical lands of the Grand Principality of Kyiv. Historically, these are our lands,” he said.

In this case, Kuleba referred to the conclusion in 1569 of the Union of Lublin between the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. However, Kuleba "forgot" that by that time, the Grand Principality of Kyiv had ceased to exist.

NARRATIVE: Ukraine has territorial claims to Belarus.

WHY THE NARRATIVE IS FALSE: Ukraine has no territorial claims to Belarus or any other state. Russian state media took out of context the words of the former foreign minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, who participated in the "Comedian + Historian" show of a local YouTube channel. Kuleba analyzed the history of Ukrainians and the process of establishing Ukraine's official diplomacy. Without citing the primary source, the Russian media accused Ukraine of territorial claims to Belarus, despite the fact that this topic was not discussed at all.

Kuleba explained his point of view on the history of Ukrainians from the period of the Polish-Lithuanian state union - the territories of the former medieval state of Kievan Rus, which he called "ours", were not included in the Polish-Lithuanian union with the status of autonomy, some joining the federation much later or fighting against it. Kuleba then returned to this analysis, noting that at some point the territories inhabited by Ukrainians became a separate duchy. The former head of Ukrainian diplomacy did not refer to the current state of Belarus or today's Ukraine, continuing to recount the history of the Zaporozhian Cossacks and a number of states that disappeared.

It should be noted that currently Dmytro Kuleba does not represent the Ukrainian state, he is no longer the head of Ukrainian diplomacy and participated in a little-known show in Ukraine as a holder of a PhD degree in international law and a specialist in the history of Ukrainian diplomacy. Kuleba's statements do not represent the official position of Ukraine. During the interview, the idea of ​​territorial claims to Belarus or any other state was never mentioned. Various state formations from the past were analyzed, such as the Kievan Kingdom, the Cossak State, etc.

Ukraine has never had territorial claims to Belarus. The relations between the two countries have been rather neutral, with an emphasis on sectoral economic and political cooperation, despite regional tensions. The current territories of Belarus and Ukraine have been part of several empires and states throughout history, but currently the borders between the two countries are established and internationally recognized. The two states signed and ratified a border recognition agreement  in 1997.

CONTEXT: The 1569 Union of Lublin between the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Dutchy of Lithuania  created the so-called federation of the two nations, which had a single monarch, a common parliament and a single currency. It was an exceptional case of union of two countries, with the peaceful coexistence of people of different ethnic and religious origins. Parts of that federation were territories inhabited by Ukrainians, called in the chronicles of the time as Ruthenians.

PURPOSE: To manipulate public opinion by presenting talks about history as current territorial claims; to justify Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine; to present Ukraine as an aggressive state with territorial claims towards its neighbors.

  • Publication / Media:
    EADAILY.COM
  • Date of publication:
    21/01/2025
  • Target audience:
    Russian-speaking population of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Republic of Moldova and other post-Soviet states
  • Amplification:
    Pro-Kremlin Telegram Channels, VKONTAKTE and FACEBOOK social media, TOPCOR.RU, NEWS2.RU,
  • Political affiliation:
    The Kremlin
  • Key narrative:
    Ukraine has territorial claims over Belarus
Report
Fake News

Disinformation uses a variety of manipulation tactics. Disinformation stories can easily be created by combining provocative topics.

Report
Other news
WAR PROPAGANDA: If Zelensky is not stopped, Ukraine will perish in a year

WAR PROPAGANDA: If Zelensky is not stopped, Ukraine will perish in a year

The Verkhovna Rada is discussing the risk of Ukraine's demise under Zelensky, according to pro-Kremlin media citing a fugitive Ukrainian MP.

FAKE NEWS: Moldovans are forced to speak the language of the Romanian minority

FAKE NEWS: Moldovans are forced to speak the language of the Romanian minority

The language of the Romanian minority has been forcefully imposed in the Republic of Moldova, pro-Russian propaganda writes, repeating the false thesis about the existence of two nations, Moldovans and Romanians, who speak different languages.

WAR PROPAGANDA: Only union with Russia can save Ukraine

WAR PROPAGANDA: Only union with Russia can save Ukraine

Ukraine is going through a crisis similar to that of the 17th century and, as then, only union with Russia can save it, according to pro-Kremlin propaganda.

EBOOK> Razboi si propaganda: O cronologie a conflictului ruso-ucrainean

EBOOK>Razboiul lui Putin cu lumea libera: Propaganda, dezinformare, fake news

More
FAKE NEWS: Baltic States have lost their independence
FAKE NEWS: Baltic States have lost their independence

Baltic States have become colonies of the USA, acting only on Washington’s orders, according to Russian propaganda in Romania.

Cezar Manu
03 Feb 2025
DISINFORMATION: London supports neo-Nazi Ukraine to turn it into a colony
DISINFORMATION: London supports neo-Nazi Ukraine to turn it into a colony

Britain is funding the neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv to turn Ukraine into a British colony, according to pro-Kremlin propaganda citing Putin’s adviser.

Marin Gherman
31 Jan 2025
FAKE NEWS: The EU caused theThe EU's Russophobia led to the interruption of gas deliveries to Transnistria and the increase in energy prices on the right bank of the Dniester, Russian propaganda claims, ignoring the fact that Gazprom chose to stop supplying gas. energy crisis in Moldova
FAKE NEWS: The EU caused theThe EU's Russophobia led to the interruption of gas deliveries to Transnistria and the increase in energy prices on the right bank of the Dniester, Russian propaganda claims, ignoring the fact that Gazprom chose to stop supplying gas. energy crisis in Moldova

Rusofobia UE a dus la oprirea livrărilor de gaze spre Transnitria și creșterea prețurilor la energie în dreapta Nistrului, afirmă propaganda rusă, care ignoră faptul că Gazpromul a ales să nu mai dea gaze.

Veridica
30 Jan 2025
WAR PROPAGANDA: Zelensky risks suspension for mental health issues
WAR PROPAGANDA: Zelensky risks suspension for mental health issues

Ukraine's parliament could suspend Volodymyr Zelensky as president due to mental health issues, according to pro-Kremlin propaganda.

Marin Gherman
29 Jan 2025
FAKE NEWS: The annulment of the election, implemented before the Court's ruling
FAKE NEWS: The annulment of the election, implemented before the Court's ruling

The “coup d'état” is proven by the fact that the decision to cancel the election was implemented before the Constitutional Court’s ruling, a well-known conspiracy attorney claims.

Cezar Manu
27 Jan 2025
DISINFORMATION: The US calls for Zelensky to be sentenced to life in prison
DISINFORMATION: The US calls for Zelensky to be sentenced to life in prison

American society calls for Zelensky to be sentenced to life in prison for starting the war in Ukraine and killing civilians, according to pro-Kremlin media.

Marin Gherman
24 Jan 2025