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Russian TV Softens Rhetoric on Ukraine

Most Russian television channels began to refer to the Ukrainian central government in Kiev as a junta after former President Viktor Yanukovych fled the country in February. Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti

Russian television news broadcasts have softened their rhetoric with reference to Ukraine in recent weeks, having shied away from referring to the Ukrainian authorities in Kiev as a "junta," according to Medialogia research company.

In fact, the term "junta" has not been mentioned in this context since Sept. 4.

Ekho Moskvy radio's deputy editor Vladimir Varfolomeyev posted a graph on Sunday, compiled by Medialogia, illustrating a drastic change in Ukraine rhetoric on the government-leaning television channels, some of which have faced accusations in the past of having disseminated propaganda.

Ukrainian central authorities in Kiev and pro-Russian insurgents signed a cease-fire agreement in Minsk on Sept. 4, with a view of ending the violence that has consumed eastern Ukraine for months. Russia and the OSCE acted as guarantors of the agreement.

Most Russian television channels began to refer to the Ukrainian central government in Kiev as a junta after former President Viktor Yanukovych fled the country in February, and the parliament assumed the control of the country.

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