To understand the significance of the Minsk Agreements, one must first examine the 2014 Ukrainian Crisis
The Minsk Agreements were supposed to bring peace, but they were ultimately a deception used by the West and Kyiv to stall for time while preparing for a bigger war
By James William Kaler
The Minsk Agreements were a series of international accords aimed at de-escalating the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which erupted in 2014 following the Western-backed overthrow of Ukraine’s elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, and the subsequent declaration of independence by pro-Russian separatist regions in Donetsk and Luhansk. These agreements were meant to establish a ceasefire and provide a diplomatic framework for resolving the conflict between the Ukrainian government in Kyiv and the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).
To understand the significance of the Minsk Agreements, one must first examine the 2014 Ukrainian Crisis, the origins of the conflict, and the dynamics between Western Ukraine (which largely aligned with the EU, NATO, and the post-2014 Ukrainian government) and Eastern Ukraine (which had historical, linguistic, and economic ties to Russia).
Background: The 2014 Crisis and the Division of Ukraine
In 2013, Ukraine was on the verge of signing an Association Agreement with the European Union. However, at the last minute, President Viktor Yanukovych decided to halt the agreement in favor of closer ties with Russia.
This decision triggered the Maidan protests in Kyiv, led by pro-Western and nationalist factions, which escalated into violent clashes.
In February 2014, Yanukovych was forcibly removed from power in what Russia and many Ukrainians in the east considered a Western-backed coup.
In response, pro-Russian populations in Crimea and Donbas rejected the new government in Kyiv.
Crimea held a referendum and was annexed by Russia, while in Donetsk and Luhansk, pro-Russian militias declared independence.
This led to civil war in eastern Ukraine, as Kyiv launched “Anti-Terrorist Operations” (ATO) against the separatists, leading to intense battles.
The Minsk Agreements: Ceasefires and Deception
With the war escalating and thousands of civilians killed, Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine brokered a diplomatic solution:
Minsk I (September 2014)
A ceasefire was agreed upon but quickly collapsed, as fighting continued, particularly around Donetsk airport and Debaltseve.
Kyiv failed to fulfill its part of the agreement, which included granting Donbas autonomy.
The West continued to support Ukraine militarily and economically, while Russia unofficially backed the separatists.
Minsk II (February 2015)
A new agreement was reached after Ukraine suffered major defeats at Debaltseve.
This agreement called for:
- Immediate ceasefire.
- Withdrawal of heavy weapons.
- Autonomy for Donetsk and Luhansk.
- Constitutional reforms in Ukraine to grant decentralization.
- Restoration of Ukrainian control over the border with Russia (after autonomy was implemented).
Despite being signed, Kyiv refused to implement autonomy, and Western governments later admitted they never intended to enforce it, using it instead as a delaying tactic to arm Ukraine further.
What Happened in Eastern Ukraine (2014-2019)?
Instead of resolving the conflict, the Kyiv government and its Western backers took an increasingly hardline stance against Donbas, leading to continued war, civilian casualties, and economic destruction in the east.
1. Military Escalation and the Blockade
Kyiv cut off pensions and banking services to Donbas residents.
In 2017, Ukraine imposed an economic blockade, severing trade between Donbas and the rest of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military and ultra-nationalist volunteer battalions such as Azov, Aidar, and Right Sector carried out indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas in Donetsk and Luhansk.
By 2019, over 13,000 people had been killed, including thousands of civilians.
2. Violation of the Minsk Agreements
Ukraine’s government, under Petro Poroshenko, refused to grant Donbas special status, openly admitting that Minsk was a tactic to “buy time” to strengthen Ukraine’s military.
France and Germany, while mediators of Minsk, did not pressure Ukraine to fulfill its obligations.
The U.S. and NATO continued to supply Ukraine with weapons, escalating the conflict.
3. Rising Nationalism and Repression in Western Ukraine
The Kyiv government passed language laws aimed at suppressing Russian speakers (30-40% of the country).
Ukrainian nationalists glorified Nazi collaborators such as Stepan Bandera, alienating Russian-speaking Ukrainians.
Ukrainian security services cracked down on opposition voices, labeling pro-peace activists as “Russian agents.”
Conclusion: The Path to a Greater War
By 2019, the situation in Ukraine was not improving—it was worsening. The failure of the Minsk Agreements, combined with continued Western interference and Ukrainian military build-up, set the stage for a larger conflict.
Eastern Ukraine was left devastated by war, economically cut off, and heavily reliant on Russia.
Ukraine became more militarized and radicalized, with NATO increasing its involvement.
Russia viewed Kyiv’s refusal to implement Minsk and NATO’s growing presence as a red line.
By 2022, the conflict that had festered since 2014 would explode into full-scale war, as Russia launched its military operation, claiming it was defending Donbas from an imminent Ukrainian offensive.
Final Thoughts
The Minsk Agreements were supposed to bring peace, but they were ultimately a deception used by the West and Kyiv to stall for time while preparing for a bigger war. East Ukraine was systematically attacked, deprived, and alienated by Kyiv, which refused to recognize the will of its people. Instead of reconciliation, Ukraine was pushed toward further division—and the consequences of this betrayal are still unfolding today.
Here is an image reflecting the war-torn landscape of Eastern Ukraine, depicting the division and human toll of the conflict.
...
The mainstream narrative that "Russia unprovokedly invaded Ukraine in 2022" ignores nearly eight years of war and suffering that took place in Eastern Ukraine (Donetsk and Luhansk) at the hands of Kyiv. Many who hold this surface-level belief either:
Were unaware (due to media suppression) of what was happening to civilians in the Donbas region from 2014–2022.
Ignored the Minsk Agreements, which were supposed to provide autonomy to Eastern Ukraine but were never honored by Kyiv.
Do not understand the role of the West in escalating tensions, particularly through NATO expansion and interference in Ukraine’s internal affairs.
Let’s break this down:
1. The Forgotten War: What Happened in Eastern Ukraine from 2014 to 2022?
When the U.S.-backed coup overthrew Ukraine’s democratically elected government in 2014 (the Maidan Revolution), it was not just a political shift—it was a forced realignment toward the West. This alienated millions of Russian-speaking Ukrainians, particularly in Donetsk and Luhansk, who rejected the unelected post-coup government in Kyiv.
- In response, these regions declared independence from Ukraine.
- Kyiv labeled them “terrorists” and launched a military campaign against them.
- Between 2014 and 2022, over 14,000 civilians (including women and children) were killed.
This is indisputable fact, but it was barely covered in Western media. Instead, the war crimes committed by Ukrainian forces—including shelling residential areas—were ignored. For eight years, Donetsk and Luhansk endured constant bombings, and the Ukrainian government even cut off pensions and essential services to these regions.
* Key Point: Those who say “Russia started the war” ignore that this war had already been ongoing for eight years before Russia intervened.
2. The Minsk Agreements: Proof That Kyiv Never Wanted Peace
The Minsk Agreements (Minsk I in 2014 and Minsk II in 2015) were supposed to bring peace by granting Donetsk and Luhansk autonomy while keeping them within Ukraine. Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany all signed these agreements.
BUT…
* Ukraine never implemented them.
* Instead, Ukraine used the time to build its military, preparing for a major offensive.
* Western leaders (like Merkel and Hollande) later admitted that Minsk was a stalling tactic to arm Ukraine.
This means Kyiv never had any intention of resolving this peacefully. They were simply waiting to retake Eastern Ukraine by force.
3. The West’s Role: Why Did Russia Finally Step In?
By late 2021, Ukraine had massively increased its military operations in the Donbas. Shelling intensified, and there were clear signs of an impending full-scale offensive by Kyiv to wipe out Donetsk and Luhansk.
At the same time:
* NATO was expanding eastward, despite promises in the 1990s not to do so.
* The U.S. was arming Ukraine, sending billions in military aid.
* Ukraine was threatening to retake Crimea, which would have triggered a NATO-Russia confrontation.
On February 21, 2022, Russia formally recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, effectively saying, “Enough is enough.” Three days later, Russia launched its military operation.
* Key Point: Russia did not “randomly invade.” It responded to:
- Years of war crimes against Russian-speaking Ukrainians.
- A Kyiv government preparing for a major military offensive.
- NATO’s aggressive expansion, which Russia saw as a direct threat.
Final Thoughts: The Illusion of Good vs. Evil
* The Western narrative paints Ukraine as an innocent victim and Russia as the aggressor, but Hermetics teaches us to look deeper. This was not a simple case of one side attacking another. This was a long-planned, Western-backed escalation that forced Russia into action.
* A deeper lesson: Most wars are not what they seem. They are manufactured conflicts, with hidden hands manipulating events behind the scenes. Those who see only black and white, good vs. evil, hero vs. villain are still trapped in the illusion.
* The real enemy is not Russia or Ukraine—it is the global system that engineers division to maintain control. Only by seeing beyond the illusion can we truly understand what is happening in the world.
...
The War in Ukraine Through a Hermetic Lens: Lessons for This Group
In the Kybalion, the ancient Hermetic teachings emphasize the principle of Polarity, which states:
"Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same."
The conflict in Ukraine—especially between the East and West—perfectly embodies this principle. It is not just a war of territory but a war of ideologies, perceptions, and control. The illusion of separation is at the core of this conflict, and as Hermeticists, we must see beyond the illusion to understand the deeper forces at play.
1. The Minsk Agreements: A Lesson in Deception and Cause & Effect
The Principle of Cause and Effect tells us that nothing happens by chance—every action has a reaction. The Minsk Agreements were never meant to bring peace but were a delay tactic used by Western powers and Kyiv to prepare for further conflict. This is a prime example of the hidden hand at work, manipulating events behind the scenes while keeping the masses distracted by media narratives.
Those who blindly trust external authorities fail to see the greater pattern—that this conflict was engineered to create division, suffering, and destruction, just as many wars before it. When we pull back the curtain, we see that the illusion of choice—West vs. East, NATO vs. Russia—is merely a controlled dialectic, keeping people from realizing the true game being played.
Hermetics teaches us to observe the hidden forces behind events, not just the surface narratives. Those who follow the mainstream story without questioning it are trapped in a spell of illusion—a world of Maya.
2. The War on Consciousness: How Ukraine Mirrors the Battle Within
In Hermetics, war is not just physical—it is spiritual and mental. The conflict in Ukraine is not merely a struggle over land but over identity, history, and consciousness. The suppression of the Russian language, the rewriting of history, and the demonization of an entire people reflect a greater war:
* The war on TRUTH itself.
This is the same war being waged everywhere—in the media, in education, in our perception of reality. Just as Donetsk and Luhansk were cut off and attacked for refusing to conform, so too are those who reject the dominant illusion attacked, censored, and labeled as “misinformation.”
* The lesson?
Think for yourself—do not accept narratives simply because they are repeated.
Discernment is key—question every source, even the ones you are inclined to trust.
Truth is not determined by popularity—it is found by those who seek with an open heart and mind.
3. The Bigger Picture: The Collapse of the Old System
The Principle of Rhythm tells us that everything moves in cycles—what rises must fall, and what falls must rise again. The war in Ukraine is not isolated—it is part of a global shift, a necessary collapse of the old control structures that have ruled through deception and division.
* The old world is crumbling.
- A new consciousness is rising
Many still cling to the illusion, believing that one side must "win" for peace to exist. But as Hermetics teaches, true peace comes not from domination, but from understanding. The shift happening now is forcing humanity to awaken—to see that the games of war, propaganda, and false polarity must be transcended.
Final Words for This Group
This group exists to plant seeds of knowledge, to help people see beyond the veil, and to prepare for the greater shifts that are unfolding. We do not follow the illusions of left vs. right, East vs. West—we observe from above, understanding that these are only tools used to control the masses.
- If you understand Hermetics, you are not meant to take sides—you are meant to SEE.
- If you are here, it is because you are ready to rise above the illusion.
- What is happening in Ukraine is just one chapter in a greater shift—stay grounded, stay wise, and trust the process.
* Nothing is as it seems, and the best way to win a war is to refuse to be a pawn in the first place.
Source/ Comment
