On February 17, during the TV show “Time for Solidarity,” the host, Davit Akhvlediani, and the guest, Giorgi Iremadze, a member of the political council of the Solidarity for Peace party, discussed global politics and the origins of Ukraine’s statehood. According to Iremadze, the current superpowers are Russia, as the most powerful military state, and China, as the number one economic power, while the USA holds third place in this ranking. Iremadze also talked about the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, stating that Russia annexed the territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea in full compliance with international norms. According to the host of the show, Ukraine’s statehood began in 1917, and the cities that Russia is fighting for today were founded by Russia.
The show featured disinformation and manipulative claims: 1) The claim that Russia is the world’s number one military power and China is the top economic power is false. The USA maintains the first position both militarily and economically; 2) It is disinformation to claim that Russia annexed Ukrainian regions in compliance with international norms. Russia violated both the Hague Convention and the Budapest Memorandum; 3) The assertion that Ukraine’s statehood originated in 1917 is manipulative. This claim is part of Russian propaganda, which disregards the establishment of Kievan Rus in the 9th century.
-
Which country is in first place economically and militarily?
Various publications measure military power using different indicators, but in all cases, the United States is in the lead. According to Military Watch Magazine, China ranks second, and Russia is in third place, while the website Global Firepower places Russia in second place and China in third. It is worth noting that an index measuring influence specifically within the Asian continent paints the same picture. According to the Lowy Institute index, the United States ranks first by both military capabilities and overall influence.
Accordingly, the claim that Russia holds first place militarily among global powers is false.
As for economic development, according to Giorgi Iremadze, China ranks first in this regard. However, Iremadze does not specify which indicators he uses when comparing economies. In reality, the USA surpasses China in several key indicators, including nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP), GDP per capita, foreign direct investment, and stock market share (S&P Global Broad Market Index). The assumption that China will surpass the USA economically has existed for a long time, with the earliest predictions stating this could happen by 2035. It should be noted that comparing economic indicators may not give an accurate picture. National statistics offices responsible for publishing economic information may, under political pressure, release incorrect data. Many countries have been caught in such actions.
-
Russia has repeatedly violated international norms
Giorgi Iremadze also claimed that Russia annexed the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea, where a referendum was held, in full compliance with international norms.
In reality, the referendum held in Crimea on March 16, 2014, was conducted in violation of both international norms and the electoral codes of Ukraine and Russia. At that time, Crimea, which was within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders, was controlled by Russian forces. On March 27 of the same year, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution expressing support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and urging countries and international organizations not to recognize any changes in Crimea’s status.
Vladimir Putin declared the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions in September 2022, and on October 6 of the same year, he formalized the annexation by signing a decree. This step violated several international principles and agreements. Among the most significant is Article 43 of the Hague Convention, which stipulates that while an occupying state can assume control over public order in occupied territory, it must respect the laws of that territory (it is notable that both Ukraine and Russia are signatories to this convention). In this case, such a law is Ukraine’s Constitution, which says that any changes to Ukraine’s territory must be decided through a national referendum. Therefore, the conduct of a referendum only in the annexed regions was unlawful. Another significant document is the Budapest Memorandum, in which Russia pledged to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and by occupying part of Ukraine’s territory, Russia violated this commitment.
-
What do we know about Ukraine’s historical territories?
Another claim made during the TV show was about Ukraine’s statehood. According to the host, Ukraine’s statehood began in 1917, and the country, in its current form, was “created” during this period.
Questioning Ukraine’s statehood is part of the Kremlin’s policy and serves to justify Russia’s occupation and the ongoing war. At various times, the Kremlin’s disinformation has targeted not only Ukraine’s statehood but also its possession of specific regions. The claim that Ukraine did not have statehood before 1917 is a slightly altered version of this narrative, but it serves the same purpose – to question Ukraine’s sovereignty and portray its eastern regions as a natural part of Russia.
In 1922, before a full Sovietization of Ukraine, the vast majority of modern-day Ukraine’s territory was part of it, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Kyiv regions. Crimea and Lviv were not part of the country at that time. However, 1917, the year the Ukrainian People’s Republic was founded, is not the beginning of Ukraine’s statehood. Ukraine’s historical foundations trace back to the 9th century, with the establishment of the state of Kievan Rus, which, besides much of modern Ukraine, also included other territories of Eastern Europe in the north. It was during this period that the Ukrainian language began to form. After the fall of Kievan Rus, by the 14th century, the territory was part of several different states, including the Mongol Golden Horde, the Kingdom of Poland, and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In the 15th century, a Cossack state emerged in southern Ukraine. As Ukraine’s territory became the target of the Russian Kingdom and Empire, Russia adopted the history of Kievan Rus and the term “Rus” as its own.
Therefore, despite the fact that Ukraine, in its modern form, became independent with the declaration of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in 1917, its statehood dates back much further.
For more details on the formation of Ukraine’s statehood and the Kremlin’s narratives on this topic, read the materials in the Myth Detector’s materials:
- When did Kievan Rus originate and what do we know about the myths about Ukraine created by Lenin?
- Which Territories did Ukraine Own in 1922 When Entering the Soviet Union?
The article has been written in the framework of Facebook’s fact-checking program. You can read more about the restrictions that Facebook may impose based on this article via this link. You can find information about appealing or editing our assessment via this link.
Read detailed instructions for editing the article.
Read detailed appeal instructions.
