[Fake] Ukraine’s desire to join NATO was the reason of the war

Russian propaganda claims: Ukraine’s desire to join NATO was the reason for the war

At the moment of russian aggression Ukraine was neutral country. Only after annexation of Crimea Ukraine decided to renounce the non-aligned status

July 2010 - Ukrainian Parliament votes to abandon NATO ambitions

On July 1, 2010, the Ukrainian Parliament voted to abandon NATO ambitions by adopting the Law on the Principles of Domestic and Foreign Policy:

Ukraine's adherence to a policy of non-alignment, which means non-participation in military-political alliances, prioritizing involvement in the improvement and development of the European collective security system, and continuing constructive partnership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other military-political blocks on all matters of mutual interest.

Source: LAW OF UKRAINE, On the Principles of Domestic and Foreign Policy, Article 11 (Principles of Foreign Policy), Section 2, Paragraph 7 (Archived version, state of Feb 2013)

This law also amended the Law of Ukraine 'On the Fundamentals of National Security of Ukraine':

In the fifth paragraph of the second part of Article 8, the words "and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization" shall be excluded.

Basically converting this:

Ensuring Ukraine's full participation in the pan-European and regional collective security systems, obtaining membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), while maintaining good-neighborly relations and strategic partnership with the Russian Federation, other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as with other states of the world.

Source: LAW OF UKRAINE, On the Fundamentals of National Security of Ukraine (state of Jan 14, 2006)

to this:

Ensuring Ukraine's full participation in the pan-European and regional collective security systems, obtaining membership in the European Union while maintaining good-neighborly relations and strategic partnership with the Russian Federation, other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as with other states of the world.

{ Fifth paragraph of the second part of Article 8 as amended by Law No. 2411-VI (2411-17) dated 01.07.2010. }

Source: LAW OF UKRAINE, On the Fundamentals of National Security of Ukraine (state of Jul 20, 2010)

This remained so until the Russian invasion in 2014.

February 2014 - Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea

Even after the appearance of the so-called 'little green men', whom Putin initially didn't admit(On Mar 04, 2014 called them 'local self defence forces', on Apr 17, 2014 stated that behind 'self-defence forces' were Russian armed forces) but later(on Nov 13, 2014) admitted were part of the Russian armed forces, Acting Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine Andriy Deschytsia stated once again in an interview with Interfax that the new Ukrainian government does not intend to lead Ukraine into NATO:

"We are considering all options regarding the strengthening of our security and collective security. But we must stick to the existing legislation of Ukraine," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Saturday.

The official noted that in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation Ukraine is a non-aligned state.

"But the issue whether to change this legislation depends on the Ukrainian parliament. The program of the new Ukrainian government does not contain the intention of becoming a member of NATO," he said.

Deschytsia added that Ukraine supports an intensive dialogue with NATO and is discussing different forms and ways of cooperation.

Source: Interfax

December 2014 - Renouncement of Ukraine's non-aligned status

Only on December 23, 2014, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine decided to renounce Ukraine's non-aligned status, as it proved ineffective in ensuring the country's security against external aggression and pressure:

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine resolves:

I. Amend the following laws of Ukraine:

{Item 1 of Section I lost its validity based on Law No. 2469-VIII of June 21, 2018}

2. In Article 11 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Principles of Domestic and Foreign Policy" (Official Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 2010, No. 40, p. 527):

1. The first part is amended as follows:

"1. Ukraine, as a European state, pursues an open foreign policy and seeks equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with all interested partners, primarily based on the necessity of ensuring the security, sovereignty, and protection of Ukraine's territorial integrity."

2. The eighth paragraph of the second part is amended as follows:

"deepening cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to meet the criteria necessary for membership in this organization."

II. Final Provisions

1. This Law shall enter into force on the day following its publication.

2. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine:

• Within one month, bring its normative legal acts into conformity with this Law;
• Within two months, ensure the review and adjustment of the normative legal acts of ministries and other central executive bodies in accordance with this Law.

Source: Verkhovna Rada website

November 2018 - February 2019

On November 22, 2018, President Poroshenko submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine (regarding the strategic course of the state for acquiring full membership of Ukraine in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

This law was adopted on February 7, 2019:

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine resolves:

I. Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine

(Official Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 1996, No. 30, Article 141)

1. In the preamble, after the words "civil harmony on the territory of Ukraine", add:
   "and confirming the European identity of the Ukrainian people and the irreversibility of Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic course."

2. Revise point 5 of the first part of Article 85 as follows:
   "5) Defining the principles of domestic and foreign policy, implementing the state's strategic course toward full membership of Ukraine in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization."

3. Supplement Article 102 with a third part as follows:
   "The President of Ukraine is the guarantor of the implementation of the state's strategic course toward full membership of Ukraine in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization."

4. Supplement Article 116 with point 1-1 as follows:
   "1-1) Ensures the implementation of the state's strategic course toward full membership of Ukraine in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization."

5. Remove point 14 of Section XV "Transitional Provisions."

II. Final Provisions

This Law shall enter into force on the day following its publication.

Source: Verkhovna Rada website

Conclusion

At the moment of russian aggression Ukraine was neutral country. Only after annexation of Crimea Ukraine decided to renounce the non-aligned status

What's next

Currently, we are working on two topics: who was breaking the Minsk agreements and why the war started in Crimea, as well as why it was an act of Russian aggression. Stay tuned!