Twitter CEO Elon Musk calls 2014 regime change in Ukraine a 'coup'

Twitter CEO Elon Musk claimed that Ukraine “indeed” witnessed a coup d’etat in 2014 after country saw a major change in government in 2014. On Saturday, a Twitter user shared an article by Prof.John J. Mearsheimer, titled “Why Ukraine Crisis Is West’s Fault”. In tweet, Twitter user quoted one of excerpts from article in which Mearsheimer asserted that Russian President, Vladimir Putin, was right to call illegal overthrow of a democratically elected, pro-Russian President a “coup”. American political scientist made se assertions back in 2014 when Russia decided to annex Crimean Peninsula. Musk has been vocal about Russia-Ukraine conflict since war began. From providing Starlink to Ukraine to proposing a peace plan in war, Musk has done it all. 

On Saturday, Twitter user quoted Mearsheimer and wrote, “For Putin, illegal overthrow of Ukraine's democratically elected and pro-Russian president— which he rightly labelled a "coup"— was final straw." Musk agreed with sentiments of Mearsheimer and responded saying, “That election was arguably dodgy, but question that re was indeed a coup".

In 2013 protests broke out in Ukraine after authorities halted legislation aimed at integration of country with European Union. public unrest eventually led to removal of n-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. former President and former goverr of Donetsk Oblast, Yanukovych, was kwn for his pro-Russian stance.

Yanukovych's removal and annexation of Crimea

After major public unrest in eastern European nations and constant lobbying by EU diplomats, Yanukovych was removed from office of President on February 22, 2014. Ukrainian government body Verkhovna Rada voted him out on grounds that he was unable to fulfil his decision to hold early presidential elections in country. During his time, former Ukrainian President had a cordial relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Under his reign, Moscow provided financial assistance to Ukraine and invested in several infrastructure projects. political instability in Ukraine enabled Russia to annex Crimean Peninsula, which remains one of major sites of conflict between Russia and Ukraine.